By iStrategist Jessie Newburn (Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, JessieX Blog)

When my brother was just three, he would often roam out of the house. For hours he’d be out and about, here and there, down by the creek, over in the woods, playing in the warm sun, at a friend’s house … or just by himself. It didn’t matter much to my mom, as long as he was home by the time it was dark.

That was in 1971, the midpoint birth year for GenXers (those born in America, 1961-1981). That was when adults were busy being adults and kids, well, they were left alone to be kids.

Were a parent today to treat their three-year-old with the same nonchalant attitude, they’d risk the admonishment of other adults and possibly even intervention by government agencies or law enforcers. I don’t tell this story to make my parents – or the era – wrong, but to show, by example, how profoundly generations are impacted by the contemporary adult view toward children.

See, after 20 years of hands-off parenting and little government interest in GenX kids, that trend reversed. And fast. The next generation, Millennials (those born in America, 1982 – 2002ish), generally had quite a different childhood experience than their next-elder GenXers. For Millennial kids, many adults considered it a normal and expected parenting choice to do such things as organize playgroups for toddlers, drive their children to school and shuttle their kids to adult-supervised activities. Placing Millennial kids in safe, child-friendly, structured environments along with their peers and generational cohorts became a personal and societal priority.

Why the intro down this particular road? Well, I’m offering a perspective on the news-making headlines about how the 35-47 year-old age group is growing by leaps and bounds over on Facebook and a host of other social networking sites.

I believe that a significant element of the headlines and underlying stories is found in generational theory,

Now, while much talk and media hype is about how Millennials are the dominant force in social media, I don’t know how true that is. Or, perhaps, a more-informative question might be found in answering how different generations engage in social media, and why.

I’m going to focus here on GenXers (the Nomad archetype in generation theory). Generally speaking, GenXers are an alienated generation that grows up fast, learns the ins-and-outs of the adult world while still young and basically focuses on that which is now, real, functional and relevant to survival … today. In young adulthood (ages 21-41), the core GenX generational experience is one of isolation, alienation and cynicism about adult structures and institutions.

GenXers also tend to find their value in corporate, community and cultural realms by noticing and filling gaps that others either don’t see or don’t care to be bothered with.

Now, along comes social media: The most fertile of environments for micro connections, micro content, micro publishing, micro commenting. Along comes social media: the most fertile of environments for connecting along values, interests and niche subjects. Along comes social media: finally, a place and a space for unfettered expression. A place and a space to speak up, claim a personal perspective, and avoid Boomer-dominated institutional communication channels, corporate speak and Big Media. Along comes social media: a place where it’s ok to be a bit alienated, isolated and cynical. And, oddly, even in doing so and being so, one can find community, connection, purpose and meaning.

See, GenXers, like every other American generation, are starting to move into the next phase of life. Historically, every time an American Nomad generation (today’s GenXers) move into mid-life (ages 42-62), there is always a system-wide crisis that hits … and hits hard. Very, very hard. *

My guess is that intuitively, under the radar, quietly and without needing permission from anyone or anything, GenXers have been aligning; they’ve been developing social media skills and technologies; and they’ve been identifying key people and resources in preparation of the cyclical Crisis Era that always occurs during the Nomad’s mid-life years.

My guess is that GenXers use social media to move around stale institutions, ineffective organizations and cumbersome communication channels. And what I know is that the GenX orientation to social media is much more than social or anti-institutional.

The world needs you, dear GenXers, just as you are. The world needs your ability to move on a dime, your capacity to notice very small things and to understand their significance. The world needs GenX leadership now because now is the natural time for its expression. Just don’t expect GenX leadership to look like Boomer leadership. Expect it to be function-oriented, need-based, nimble, technical and even a bit harshly realistic toward other adult generations. Expect GenX leadership to use, grow and make valuable social media as a key and critical component of the challenges of today and the coming decade.

So rock on, GenXers. Rock on.

* “The Great Devaluation” onset was predicted in The Fourth Turning (Strauss and Howe), p. 283, based on generational theory and cultural turnings.

Share This