Millennial Predictions for the Next Decade

As we this decade draws to a close and we prepare to ring in a new year, there are many perspectives about how the 2000s will be remembered. In the last 10 years, we've seen many defining moments, including the Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, a recession, the inauguration of our nation's first African-American president, incredible advances in technology and a social media revolution that has been compared to the Industrial Revolution.

However, what also defines this decade is the fact that our generation, the Millennial Generation, truly came of age during this time – and these events and many others have helped define who we are, for better or worse (although we hope the former). As we look forward to whatever lies ahead in 2010, Kari and I thought it would be a great opportunity to invite some of our diverse and interesting Millennial friends to offer 100-word predictions on what lies ahead for our generation in the coming decade. Take a look at their thoughts, and add your own in the comments.

I know enough to know I haven’t the foggiest what the 2010s hold. Rewinding back to 1999, very few among us could have predicted the anthrax scare, Twitter, sexting, “not on our watch!,” or Matisyahu. But I will posit that in the next decade, the social graph is likely to become an indispensible engine of social change. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Every Millennial is empowered – like no member of any generation before them – to rally 100s, or 1000s, to catalyze positive change in the world. I have no doubt these social citizens will continue to amaze us.
- Jason Rzepka, VP of Public Affairs, MTV

I spend a lot of time thinking about how technology and social media can bring people together locally and globally. In the next decade, innovative ideas using the web, particularly mobile will radically transform our concept of volunteerism and giving. There is something powerful that happens when you can see the direct impact of your involvement. I view social networks and communication tools like Twitter as an evolution of the physical role a church or community centre once played. It has never been easier to find ways to get involved, meet others offline and use your skills for good.
 - Amanda Rose, social entrepreneur and Twestival organizer

At some point over the last ten years I became an adult – and found out very quickly that being an adult is hard. There is no manual or guide to reference. You are on your own. By comparison, changing the world isn’t so difficult. Ten years ago, there was little that one individual could do that would produce meaningful, measurable changes in our society. Today, there are websites and widgets to help you navigate and a global community to join or help to mold. Being an adult will always be hard. Changing the world is getting easier by the day.
 - Brian Reich, communications specialist and Media Rules! author

Next decade, giving money will become less important than giving voice, giving time and giving work.
 - Ben Rattray, founder and CEO of Change.org (who challenged himself to predicting in 100 characters...exactly)

In 2010, the oldest of Gen Y will be 30 years old. No longer the "baby" in the nonprofit workplace, the "next" generation will quickly become the "now" generation and the whole world will be watching to see if we will step up to lead with compassion, innovation and a sense of urgency to fix the myriad of problems we've inherited. 2010 does not ask that Gen Y get "ready to lead.” It demands that we actually lead. What I think we'll see in 2010 is more young people answering that call. And I hope to God that you're one of them.
 - Rosetta Thurman, writer, speaker, professor and consultant

Expect a re-examination of ideology in the sphere of millennial-directed activism. It is unsurprising that millennials – having grown up in the shadows of astronomically sloppy ideological doses – so strongly gravitated towards the pragmatic Barack Obama. However, we must re-imagine, not turn away from, ideology. Without an agreed upon and articulated set of ideals, we will find ourselves paralyzed, forever on the defensive. Algorithm-calculated action coupled with social-network-organized dissent makes for a dynamic revolutionary body, but if we do not birth universal and flexible guiding philosophies into which we can package our intentions and actions, it will live soullessly.
 - Alex Steed, Millennial Generation activist and enthusiast

The 2000s handed society a new set of tools. In the 2010s, we face the burden and the opportunity of figuring out how and when to use those tools for social good. Social networking tools could create homogenous online ghettos—or bridge cultures and communities. Online philanthropy tools could reinforce reactive, inefficient giving—or increase impact and reward performance. To succeed, we’ll have to innovate. But innovation is not an end in and of itself. Innovation is a means to reach our goals. Let us hope that the 2010s are nicer than the naughty 2000s—and that we learn to use the tools we’ve been given.
 - Jacob Harold, Program Officer at the Hewlett Foundation

The coming decade will see the demise of traditional political constituencies/Parties- to be replaced by The Cloudists. Cloudicrats/Cloudicans will create+push major policy agendas with cash, GOTV etc. using free G-software and no "national headquarters." They will organize via amazon-like algorithms ("voters who liked this initiative also voted for.....") and will change the very mechanisms of government/ing in ways we can't even imagine.
 - Ari Wallach, cofounder of The Great Schlep

My generation, the Millennial Generation, is staring off the edge of a tall cliff – Democracy, Society, Economy, pick your metaphor – and we’re deciding; collectively and through the use of technology, whether we are going to fall off or take a running start, jump and soar. I promise, we’ll run, jump and soar and in this decade we will innovative, create, collaborate and build a new definition of leadership, for all of the metaphors above. We are facing obstacles, no doubt, but we will best them. I am energized by what my generation will build if we invest in each other.
 - Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org and cofounder of the 80 Million Strong campaign