The Time magazine cover of a young girl consumed with taking a “selfie” with the bold words describing my generation as “lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents,” would probably irk the attention of two kinds of passer-by: the Millenial generation described or their parents.

In fact, the older passer-by may experience déjà vu, as past claims have been similar – all by various, esteemed magazines, such as Life, New York, Newsweek, and even Time –  each outlining the multitudinous character flaws of the generation in which it was written.

As such, the article is primed to attract either those inclined to agree (who will walk past, assured in their opinion, now being backed by the illustrious Time magazine) or the most appalled, even though the article eventually takes a more neutral tone, even if its presentation poorly reflects this.

A neutral eye may recognize that there remains an underlying factor in these accusations. Perhaps the most salient point included in the article was Scott Hess’, who stated in a TED talk “Can you imagine how many…Instagrams of people…during Woodstock we would’ve seen? I think in many ways, you’re blaming Millenials for the technology that happens to exist now.”

Could it be then that this generation’s flaws are, as was pointed out, only exacerbated because of technology’s presence? New scientific studies have produced findings about the workings of the impressionable adolescent’s brain; findings, from sleep deprivation and early school times and pressuring life decisions despite immature brain development, all pointing to the same underlying statement that our system is not optimized for the most successful transition into adulthood.

The problem increases in prevalence as time goes on, as evidenced by the articles. Perhaps these problems have always existed but in different strains: could it be that technology has only taken a magnifying glass to latent and unaddressed social problems?

Each generation provides new perspective and an opportunity to change our existing methods, but this is not being done: despite all these findings, we are perpetuating the same mistakes. It is our chosen inevitability then that this article will be cycled generation after generation, with each writer questioning the lack of societal advancement.