Wow, that's quite a comprehensive article you got there! You give a lot to think about.

I agree with what you say about the criticism on the growing individualism among millennials. Surely understanding ourselves better via introspection isn't a bad thing.

And as we have more access to wider resources and experiences, I think it only makes sense that we can be flippant when faced with doing something "good" for society.

We simply have too many other options to gain a decent social standing- things like wide information access, online and offline communities and even traveling mean that we often don't need to feel controlled by one community, or even one nationalism. If one community rejects us, it's easier than ever to find another one that won't.

However, as you mentioned yourself, this introspective trait we now have, can also be negative. Maybe we've become too sensitive, too weak. Maybe we over-think too much. But then maybe this is how we've always been- only millennials are the first "brave-enough" to admit it.

All in all, I think there are definitely some good attributes of the millennial's growing individualism. Being inquisitive and introspective, perhaps we stand more of a chance of personal fulfilment long-term than previous generations. We just shouldn't forget to put the work in.

I feel a lot of the criticisms for millennials from older generations are almost cruel. They were happy for us to adapt to the consumerist world they created. And now, rather than adapting the "behind-the-scenes" to suit us too, they complain that we're not as effective as they were. Somehow Frankenstein comes to mind amid all this.

But hey, the world is changing fast. I think it's no wonder that things like Airbnb, Uber and the experience economy have taken off in recent years- in many ways they characterise what us millennials love- instant gratification, flexibility and individuality.