Tow #17 The Millennials Are All Right by Peggy Drexler

Technology continues to advance everyday and scientists and sociologists are beginning to wonder what effect this will have on people. With constant updates on twitter, and Facebook and the recent obsession with selfies professions have split opinions about whether social media has created a narcissistic or confident society. Peggy Drexler, a research psychologist, uses historical examples and rhetorical questions to decipher whether or not technology and social media are breeding a generation of narcissists.  Without coming to a definitive conclusion she address both aspects to this situation.

To help her audience understand the situation Drexler is assessing she discusses other similar times in the past. She compares the social media of this generation to that of the baby boomers with TV. “The baby boomers have had their ups and downs, but they ended up a largely happy and accomplished generation. Television didn’t ruin them” (Para 9) and Drexler has the same hopes for today. Each generation grows up with some new advancement that changes them from the previous one. Although, the baby boomers turned out all right Drexler still remains undecided, however, optimistic about the future of the Millennials.

Throughout the article Drexler addresses counterarguments to all sides of the argument using rhetorical questioning. She discusses topics and reservations people have about completely accepting one side. A common doubt is whether the technology is the cause for speculation of narcissism. “Whether it’s a disorder or just confidence, can technology really have all that much to do with it? Maybe. But maybe not” (Para. 4). She justifies the claim with data showing that Facebook users score higher on narcissistic personality tests. While juxtaposing it with other research that came to conclusions that Facebook just highlights narcissism as a social norm as it provides a tool for self-awareness. Drexler employs questions to examine the different studies. She shows the negativity of jumping too quickly to conclusions in this scenario.

Drexler’s article highlights the issue of narcissism in today’s society. She allows people to evaluate the situation from a researchers stance and relates to her audience through historical analogies. With rhetorical questioning, Drexler allows the readers to determine their own conclusion. This article provides a thorough examination on how technology has affected people’s confidence and love for one’s self.