Student Opinion: Americans Are Too Complacent
Launch the media gallery 1 player“Back in my day, this never existed, instead we had to do things the hard way,” is what younger generations may have heard from someone older than them. In many scenarios, older generations are prone to tell younger generations the lifestyle and responsibilities they acquired when they were younger. Most of the time, the beliefs older people hold seem extreme, but are they really?
In today's day and age, Americans and younger generations have especially become too complacent. It's easy to say this as an older person, but the cause and effect of complacency has evolved from technology and the development of social norms.
Growing up, technology has always been prevalent in my life. From the age of 1 to 18, technology has increased exponentially, especially in younger generations. Although technology such as automotives, appliances, electricity, and many more scenarios are imperative to life as we know it, technology like electronic devices and everything entailed with social media and electronic devices has become detrimental to younger generations.
Cell phones have made communication easier between people, but it has also hindered people with in-person communication skills. Not only do phones dismantle in-person interactions, they require and take more personal time and value out of people's lives. In 2026, having access to phones is almost mandatory in everyday life, but it also circles back to people becoming too complacent.
Having easy access to communication through a screen or speaker is much easier than in-person conversations. Instead of finding something to do such as a hobby, sport, or interest, social media has replaced all of these normal activities that are imperative for a healthy lifestyle. Although it is easy to rely on technology as a source of entertainment, every individual should have a list of interests and hobbies outside of using technology so they can think independently and create without words or videos on a screen. Although I do believe technology can be good in some situations, it should not replace human interactions and activities.
Artificial intelligence is a key component to complacency within technology and the overall use of thinking. Instead of completing a simple easy task using your own brain to formulate thoughts, students and adults both can now turn to a faster solution, AI. By using AI, people are taking the easy way out of learning, formulating their own ideas, and being able to create.
A fear that has come to fruition for me is that people are going to start forgetting how to function by themselves without relying on other sources or people. Without having your own hobbies, people’s personalities only reflect off of social media and the current trends.
In today's day and age, social norms are also affecting Americans. Instead of going above and beyond, mediocrity is the new normal. If something is good enough, it’s acceptable, which is fine, Americans and younger generations just don’t have the urge to go above and beyond with what they are capable of. Instead. it is more normal for people to do the minimum of what is expected. This also relates to being content, risk avoidance, and staying in your comfort zone. Although it is okay to not always put in 110% or go above and beyond, the fears of public scrutiny, failure, and experimentation can also be a cause of complacency which is becoming more prevalent.
Giving grace to younger generations of America, I do understand why being complacent is growing more common. Being a teenager, I have faced many periods of my life where I can’t give everything 110%, but I’ve also realized it is better to do the best you can. Looking around me, some days I hear and see not enough care in the world. I think if Americans lived their lives by relying less on technology, finding more time for real hobbies, interests, and in-person interactions, and gave 110% of themselves to people and tasks more of the time, our society would truly benefit.