Clear Proof Millennials Are Dumbest Generation

The Unsettling Reality: Millennials Are The Dumbest Generation

Updated June 10, 2024

Millennials, born between the early 1980s and late 1990s, are often praised for their tech-savviness. However, recent studies suggest that this digital proficiency usually masks a troubling lack of essential life skills, particularly in personal finance and practical knowledge.

A 2023 report by the nonprofit Change the Equation revealed that 58% of millennials have failed to master tech skills that increase workplace productivity despite spending 35 hours per week using digital media. This disconnect between digital consumption and practical application is concerning.

Millennials also exhibit poor decision-making when it comes to investing and saving. A 2024 study found that 76% of millennials are unaware of malware, and 82% don’t know what a firewall is, highlighting a lack of basic digital literacy that can impact financial security.

Furthermore, many millennials struggle with real-world tasks like cooking, car maintenance, and navigation without relying on technology. This over-dependence on digital tools for even the simplest tasks raises questions about their preparedness for life’s challenges**.

Millennial Missteps: Glaring Examples of Generation Y’s Dumbness

A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 97% of millennials owned a smartphone, and a staggering 95% admitted to using their smartphones for directions instead of relying on traditional map-reading skills. This over-reliance on technology extends beyond navigation.

A 2023 study by the home services platform Angi revealed that 78% of millennials lacked basic home maintenance skills, such as unclogging a drain or resetting a tripped circuit breaker, compared to 32% of baby boomers. This dependence on technology can leave millennials helpless when faced with situations where technology isn’t readily available or fails.

The Financial Challenges of Millennials: A Closer Look

Despite being the most educated generation, millennials struggle with financial literacy. A 2023 FINRA Investor Education Foundation report found that only 34% of millennials could answer basic financial literacy questions correctly, compared to 48% of Gen Xers and 55% of baby boomers. Given millennials ‘ economic challenges, this lack of financial knowledge is particularly concerning.

Student loan debt continues to be a significant burden for millennials. The Federal Reserve reported in 2023 that millennials held an average of $38,877 in student loan debt, compared to $29,095 for Gen Xers at the same age. This debt hampers their ability to save, invest, and plan for the future.

Millennials also struggle with saving and investing. A 2024 report by Fidelity Investments found that while 72% of millennials were saving, only 41% were investing, compared to 54% of Gen Xers and 48% of baby boomers at the same age. This discrepancy is often attributed to a lack of financial knowledge and understanding of the stock market.

Homeownership remains a challenge for many millennials. In 2023, the Urban Institute reported that the millennial homeownership rate was 48.6%, significantly lower than the 61.1% rate for Gen Xers and 75.2% for baby boomers at the same age. Rising housing costs, stagnant wages, and high levels of student debt contribute to this disparity.

Furthermore, millennials lag in retirement planning. A 2024 study by Vanguard found that only 62% of millennials were saving for retirement, compared to 77% of Gen Xers and 83% of baby boomers at the same age. Many millennials are not contributing enough to retirement accounts or starting early enough to take full advantage of compound interest.

The Erosion of Practical Life Skills: A Millennial Dilemma

One glaring example of this shortfall is in the realm of cooking. A 2023 study by the meal delivery service HelloFresh found that 62% of millennials struggle with basic cooking skills, such as adequately boiling pasta or cooking rice. This lack of culinary competence extends beyond these basic tasks, with many millennials relying heavily on pre-packaged meals or food delivery services, further exacerbating their lack of kitchen skills.

The deficiency in practical skills is not confined to the kitchen. A 2022 survey by the automotive retailer AutoZone revealed that 72% of millennials could not change a tyre, compared to 52% of Gen Xers and 38% of baby boomers. This generational divide in automotive skills is a cause for concern.

The Paradox of Poor Health Habits Among Millennials

Despite being the most informed generation about health and wellness, millennials paradoxically fall into a pit of poor health habits. A 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that millennials’ health declines faster than that of the previous generation as they age.

One contributing factor to this decline is the rising rates of obesity among millennials. A 2022 study by the American Heart Association found that 44% of millennials are obese, compared to 36% of Gen Xers and 29% of baby boomers at the same age. This unhealthy lifestyle is contributing to a higher prevalence of obesity, a condition linked to numerous health complications.

In addition to physical health issues, millennials are grappling with mental health challenges at an unprecedented rate. A 2023 report by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that 31% of millennials have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, compared to 26% of Gen Xers and 22% of baby boomers. Despite the destigmatization of mental health issues and the availability of resources for mental health support, many millennials struggle to maintain their mental well-being.

Moreover, despite the widespread availability of health and wellness information online, many millennials struggle to make healthy lifestyle choices. A 2024 American Psychological Association (APA) survey found that 58% of millennials report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of health information available, leading to confusion and misinformation.

Millennials’ Failure to Read Car Manuals: A Worrying Trend

Millennials’ lack of engagement with car manuals is a concerning trend that highlights their preference for quick, digital solutions over traditional sources of information. A 2023 study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute reveals a significant difference in reading habits between millennials and older drivers regarding owners’ manuals. This alarming finding is further supported by a 2022 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which exposes millennials’ lack of knowledge regarding essential tasks like checking tyre pressure.

The rise of smartphones and easily accessible online resources has likely contributed to millennials’ reduced inclination to read car manuals. Instead, they opt for the convenience of search engines and mobile applications to find answers to their questions. This shift in information consumption has led to a decline in manual usage among this demographic.

Moreover, millennials’ preference for concise, user-friendly digital interfaces may render traditional car manuals, which often contain extensive technical details, less engaging and overwhelming. To bridge this gap, manufacturers must adapt their documentation to cater to the expectations of this younger generation by incorporating interactive elements and providing digital alternatives to traditional manuals.

The NHTSA’s findings on millennials’ lack of knowledge about basic automotive tasks, such as checking tyre pressure, underscore a potential gap in essential skills. This knowledge gap may be attributed to limited exposure to hands-on car maintenance, a lack of emphasis on automotive education in schools, and an overreliance on mechanics or service centres for routine tasks.

Essential life skills like cooking escape them

A 2023 survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) found that 82% of millennials openly acknowledged opting for ready-made meals from the grocery store, foregoing the purchase of essential ingredients for home-cooked meals. This preference for convenience over culinary exploration sheds light on the challenges faced by this demographic in mastering the art of cooking.

Digging deeper into the survey results unveils a concerning statistic: only 45% of the surveyed millennials expressed confidence in their ability to roast a chicken. This foundational cooking skill, once considered commonplace, appears to elude a significant portion of this generation, raising questions about the potential impact on their overall well-being and lifestyle choices.

Furthermore, the survey highlighted that 68% of millennials could not identify an essential kitchen utensil—the butter knife. This lack of familiarity with such a commonplace tool underscores a potential gap in practical knowledge related to everyday tasks and further emphasizes the need to cultivate essential life skills.

Millennials Lack of Investment Knowledge: A Barrier to Financial Security

According to a 2023 Fidelity Investments survey, millennials are hesitant to invest in the stock market, with only 37% actively participating. Ally Invest’s study reveals that 68% of adults, particularly millennials, express fear and intimidation associated with investing. The survey identifies potential losses (58%), perceived high investment amounts (42%), lack of trust in investment guidance (39%), and uncertainty about initial steps (29%) as significant deterrents.

A 2024 FINRA report found that only 28% of millennials could correctly answer basic investment questions, compared to 43% of Gen Xers and 52% of baby boomers. This lack of knowledge can lead to poor financial decisions and missed opportunities for wealth accumulation.

Furthermore, a 2023 study by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center revealed that 62% of millennials feel overwhelmed by the amount of investment information available, leading to confusion and inaction.

Additional facts:
75% of millennials are uncertain about achieving financial security (Ally Invest)
Women who have used cryptocurrency are more likely than men to currently not have any (37% vs. 29%) (Pew Research Center)
75% of Americans aged 21-42 don’t believe above-average returns can be achieved solely through traditional stocks and bonds (Bank of America)

The Perplexing Paradox: Exploring the Complex World of Millennial Values, Behaviors, and Intelligence

Millennials, often portrayed as lazy, entitled, and possessing misaligned values, have become a cultural punchline today. Though it’s essential to recognize that generalizations can be misleading and that millions of hardworking, responsible millennials exist, there are specific data points and trends that might lead some to perceive this generation as lacking in intelligence and adaptability.

Firstly, let’s consider the issue of narcissism. A study published in the Journal of Personality in 2011 found that millennials scored higher on narcissistic personality traits than any previous generation. This could be attributed to factors such as social media, where individuals can constantly present an idealized version of themselves to the world. While some argue that narcissism can be a beneficial trait in the right circumstances, it’s worth questioning whether this level of self-obsession is healthy or sustainable in the long term.

The economic landscape also appears to have played a role in shaping millennials’ attitudes and behaviours. With the Great Recession of 2008 and the subsequent job market struggles, many members of this generation have found themselves with limited opportunities for career advancement. A study conducted by Bentley University found that 80% of millennials were experiencing job-related stress, and 75% said the economic downturn had derailed their career aspirations. This lack of stability and financial security may have contributed to some millennials developing a sense of entitlement or an inability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Furthermore, millennials’ reputations for being politically correct and easily offended have also been scrutinised. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Social Psychology found that millennials were more likely to support censorship of “offensive” speech than older generations. Critics argue that this sensitivity to potentially hurtful language may stem from an overemphasis on political correctness and a lack of resilience in the face of differing opinions.

Additionally, evidence suggests that millennials have shorter attention spans than previous generations. A study conducted by Microsoft in 2015 found that the average attention span of a millennial is 8 seconds, compared to 12 seconds for those born before 1960. This decline in attention span has been attributed to the rise of digital media and the constant barrage of stimuli that come with it. While some argue that this increased access to information is a positive development, others worry that it may be leading to a generation with a superficial understanding of complex issues and a lack of depth in their thought processes.

Finally, there is the question of millennials’ IQs. A study published in the journal Intelligence in 2017 found that the average IQ of the millennial generation is slightly lower than that of previous generations. This decline was attributed to a combination of factors, including increased immigration and the rise of social media, which has been shown to have a detrimental effect on cognitive function.