The Snowflake Generation
The “snowflake” generation; a generation manufactured by copious amounts of data stressing the inevitable “crisis”. The Great Recession, a housing crisis, and now a pandemic.
We explore the effects these experiences might have had on our generation and offer some strategies for thriving in a challenging and uncertain world.
Read time: 8 mins
The ‘snowflake’ generation; a generation manufactured by copious amounts of data stressing the inevitable “crisis”. As technology continues to progress, we are now more than ever saturated with updates on every aspect of the world, constantly finding uncanny correlations between our realities and Charlie Brooker’s ‘Black Mirror’. From multiple different news sources stressing a financial crisis or perhaps the end of civilisation due to the pandemic, to social media creating a crisis of identity as we are exposed to the very glamorous lives we wish to emulate which seem so polarising to our own. Underneath most, if not all, of the data we receive is advertising and sales. And with what we have been sold, our minds have paid the ultimate price as the overwhelming bombardment of information takes its toll on our mental health, particularly anxiety. That being said, and contrary to popular belief, the snowflake isn’t self-pitying. Rather, every little Irish snowflake is on their own, posthuman journey that will make them as tough as steel.
For years, we, the Irish snowflake generation, have been regularly warned by our elders that there will be another recession, and lad, it's coming fast. They kindly reminded us that it would be very unlikely that we could ever afford to buy a house of our own on the emerald isle, particularly in Dublin. One thing our generation has always been reminded of is rent in Dublin, which according to the news, social media, politicians, and activists, is next to impossible to afford.
However, as much as there is a heavy element of fear that has become a natural part of the little snowflake, there is also a great element of hope. In an age of success-driven influencers, who apparently can achieve anything if they work hard, stay fit and look good, the snowflake generation then challenges the indoctrination of fear. While this outlook of optimism may appear good on paper, in reality it only reinforces a confused and conflicted generation, as a majority of the information received regarding our future is unregulated, uncertain and overwhelming.
Unfortunately, in almost all state-funded and mandatory education programmes, excluding Leaving Cert Applied, there is no real guidance concentrating on what happens after education. So while we are inundated with data that only serves as a confliction of the trials and tribulations of the economy and results in an overwhelmed snowflake, the education system fails massively to inform any young person entering the "real world" of the necessary next steps and guidance. However, there are some things reinforced in the education system, whether overtly or not. These are the traditional steps to “success”: college, prosperous career and finally a house. So, with the fear of God instilled, sunshine in a bag and a Bachelor's, the snowflake enters the real world, in search of prosperity and a home.
The first inevitable phase following college is the job hunt. Before February, the job market was rife. The economy seemed to be booming and every single day multiple new jobs were posted on Indeed, Monster and Jobs.ie. It all felt so distant to the 2008 Great Recession, something we have been regularly reminded of and one of the major internalised fears of the snowflake generation. Although there were endless job listings, it became very apparent that almost all applicants for entry-level jobs are required to have anywhere from 1-5 years’ experience behind you. Post-February 2020, you’d be lucky to see a single entry-level job posted anywhere. The economy is uncertain, and opportunities are fleeting before our eyes. It all seems quite hopeless, and it could be - if you let it. Snowflakes, however, are much more resilient than that. Being fully aware of the cyclical nature of the economy, after watching the 2008 crash and now preparing for another one, we know that this will be temporary. No economy is static. The job market was hard before, and it will be even harder, but we now have the opportunity to give ourselves the experience going forward.
The Great Recession the ten years after. Source: The Irish Times
In a heavily globalised, experimental era of new technologies, anxiety has almost become innate. Therefore, the anxiety of trying to secure a job does not end when the job has been secured. The satisfaction of what felt like a lifetime of hard work and disappointment in getting your foot in the door really comes to fruition when you get your first payslip. Unfortunately, one thing that has failed to be explained by ANYONE, is tax. For those who have yet to secure a job, I really recommend educating yourself on tax, in preparation for your immediate confusion at your first payslip. Revenue and Citizens Information offer clear breakdowns, well, as clear as it could get.
The paradox of entry-level jobs, the unexplainable taxing, all seem insignificant when compared to the next step in the process, the house step. The housing crisis is not a quiet subject, with movements such as Take Back the City promoting a needed awareness of its severity. But, the rent crisis won’t truly dawn on you until you begin searching for rent. Scrolling through the phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Attending viewings that only leave you disheartened with humanity, as a family of four sleep in a makeshift bedroom in a house full of strangers from all over, surviving rather than living. This crisis is the most preventable and inhumane issue Ireland has, and chances are, it will demotivate you. However, there are resources available that could make this slightly easier in some cases, rent supplements are available. Threshold also offers amazing advice informing you of your rights as a tenant, something that I can vouch for.
Take Back the City Protests
This crisis has impacted Ireland, particularly cities and urban areas for what seems like forever, and although we are expecting a drastic change in the economy and demand due to the pandemic, it is unlikely that the core issue will change. That should never discourage you. As reiterated throughout this article, snowflakes are resilient, we are bombarded with information every second of every day, inflicting fear, hope, confusion, and a whole lot of anxiety. We take this information and we challenge it, and that’s how we are able to keep going.
As challenging as everything might seem right now for the little snowflakes of Ireland, it’s safe to say it always has been challenging, perhaps not in the same way, but the fundamentals have always been there. Other than teaching us obedience within society, our education system has failed to prepare us for the real world. All that we were taught was fear and hope, and this fear and hope revolved around financial gain. Fear of not being able to afford to live and hope for being able to afford to live your best life. We missed out on much of the practical knowledge necessary to thrive, instead assaulted with mountains of useless information. Nevertheless, we have proved our resilience and defiance in the face of anxiety and show that although the future has always seemed bleak, “snowflakes” will continue to rise to the challenge.
One piece of advice I will offer is to be mindful. As tough as snowflakes are, staying mindful in the midst of a data storm is essential. Be mindful of your future self, but do not let it dictate you. Being mindful of the present will always hold slight superiority, because it, as the expression goes, is a gift. As the journey continues and we recover from this pandemic, it is essential not to lose hope and let the inevitable crisis overwhelm you because if the world around you falls apart, you have to learn to keep together. In the words of Billy Bragg, ‘the system has failed you, don’t fail yourself.’
Billy Bragg
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