Intolerant, susceptible, the snowflakes generation would begin to pose management problems to its elders, whose codes are very different. Born with technology, politically correct, not very revolutionary, these young adults no longer seem to have the same expectations, far from May 68 and cobblestones. Without returning to the military rhythm of post-68 education, their revolution would be done by seeing digital with hacking or digital viruses.

Snowflakes generation

One might think that this expression is used to compare human beings to individuals each unique like snowflakes, who look alike, but who in their structures are each different.

It is not so. For our friends across the Atlantic and across the Channel, the snowflake is all that is pejorative. This expression is used to image a generation stuck between adolescence and adulthood, who are said to be less resilient than their predecessors.

The story of this generation

Born in the early 90s, this generation reached adulthood in the 2010s. According to sociologists, this generation is characterized by its “volatile” side, its emotional instability and its low resilience due to an overprotected childhood.

Also called the “millennial” generation, it is called the snowflake generation in reference to the novel Fight Club, written by Chuck Palahniuk. Adapted for the cinema by David Fincher in 1999, with Brad Pitt Edward Norton, this film tells the story of young men adrift, in search of identity who join a fight club to take back their power, their life in hand, thanks to the fighting spirit.

Contrary to the thought of the famous singer Pharell Williams who advocates a unique identity: “No human being is the same; we are like snowflakes, none of us are the same but we are all cool, ”author Chuck Palahniuk uses this metaphor to go against this way of thinking, openly criticizing the weakness of character that ‘he would provoke.

In this mythical scene where the nonconformist Tyler Durden encourages his men to fight their submission to the consumer society with their fists by starting from the assumption that no one is special: “You are not exceptional, you are not a Wonderful and unique snowflake, you are made of the same rotting organic substance as everything else, we are the shit of this world ready for anything, we all belong to the same rotting heap of humus. “

Who created the expression? As always, several sources claim authorship. Still, it pleases and flows a lot of ink.

In the United States, the term entered the Collins English Dictionary, which describes the snowflake generation as “the young adults of the 2010s, who are seen as less resilient and more susceptible than previous generations.” It has also become the expression used in politics to ridicule the pro-Europeans and the anti-Trump.

Born between the 80s and the 90s, these young adults grew up in parallel with the rapid development of new technologies. They are therefore digital professionals, who use the tool in their daily life, and have not known life without an application. In her book, Tamar Almog specifies that this young generation has been shaped by an increasingly self-critical and cynical, confrontational, entrepreneurial society; consumer and media oriented, individualistic and globalized. For the author, they are egocentric children of the digital age, raised as princes and princesses, protected by the words of praise and affirmation of their teachers and parents.

Psychologists worry about the results of an education which, in order to promote “self-esteem”, has blocked the ability to question oneself. Claire Fox, describes “These little emperors with hypersensitive skin are not to blame. We are the ones who created them ”. It calls into question a change in educational methods. Overly protective parents and teachers have spared this generation the experiences that allow access to adult emotional maturity. Its members would thus remain blocked at a stage of psychic development.

Ideologies on Generation Y

This generation constantly complains:

• requires “safe space” (space where one can debate freely);
• “Trigger warning” (the act of warning before shocking content);
• “no-platforming” (prohibiting a certain personality from participating in a debate).

Practices that some fear to be compared to an attack on freedom of expression and a certain censorship in English and American universities.

Many university teachers note a lack of self-criticism on the part of students, a difficulty in questioning themselves, a difficulty in debating.

First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt question the reasons for these new campus problems. They have their origin in three terrible ideas that are more and more integrated in the childhood and education of this generation:

• what does not kill you weakens you;
• always trust your feelings;
• life is a battle between good and evil.

According to researchers, these three great untruths contradict basic psychological principles on well-being and the ancient wisdom of many cultures. Accepting these untruths – and the resulting culture of safety – interferes with the social, emotional and intellectual development of young people. It is more difficult for them to become independent adults, able to face the pitfalls of life. According to the survey by Lukianoff and Haidt, these untruths come from the social climate in which this generation bathed:

• rising parental fear;
• the decline of unsupervised and directed play by children;
• the new world of social media, teenage addiction.

A generation difficult to manage

By 2020, half of the workforce will come from this generation stuck between adolescence and adulthood. Concretely, the manager of the snowflake will therefore have to deal with his particularities and appear as a leader.

A true example to follow and representative of authority, he must:

• accompany him;
• coach him;
• the counselor.

As this generation is very sensitive to recognition, it is essential for the manager to recognize the effort and work provided.