And we’re back!

You’ve made it to Week 4 with me. We all deserve a nice pat on the back. You can catch up on anything you might have missed here.

Before we jump in further…

It’s not lost on me on how busy you are and I’m grateful for the subscription. If you are reading this online and/or this was passed onto you, please join me for future editions by clicking on the subscribe button below.

And while I try not to self promote too hard here, I’m excited to announce that I’ve just joined MentorPass as a way to connect with those seeking advisory services. If that’s you or anyone you know, head on over and book some time with me. Now on to the good stuff.

Deep(ish) Millennial Thought of the Week

Are we as Millennials better or worse off with smartphones, social media, and a growing amount of screen time in our lives?

I think about this often. Both professionally and personally, I don’t see any way in which going cold turkey on modern technology is possible. But these days, I like my time spent online and more specifically, on my mobile device, less and less.

This week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy issued a severe warning on the risks of social media consumption on the mental health of young people. The statistics are scary - you can read all about it here.

My gears on this subject started really churning earlier over the weekend after reading this commentary from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN in relation to parenting. Now I have no kids, and I am not in a place to suggest what is proper parenting. That being said, there were a lot of relatable points made here that resonated with my own relationship with my phone and social media. The article, which I suggest every parent and non-parent alike read, hit hard and made me want to re-evaluate my personal screen time.

While a lot has been said as to how Gen Z has been impacted from growing up almost entirely with smartphones and social media, I think Millennials, especially those born in the 80s lovingly (I think) labeled as “Elder” often get lost in the commentary and evaluation. There is one key difference worth noting here when considering the effects of all of this on our own mental health: we lived and existed without smartphones and social media.

Yes, it was at one point possible to survive without checking your phone every 7 minutes or 144 times a day as we do currently, referenced by Dr. Gupta. While reading directions on MapQuest may not have been as easy as plugging in coordinates into the “Maps” app on your current smartphone, it certainly was an interactive experience that made you engaged with those in the car around you.

And I think that ultimately this touches upon what is bothering me right now with our own age cohort’s obsession with our phones and social media. Are smartphones and social media in fact making us ironically less social with one another in the physical world? According to The 2020 Cigna Loneliness Index, there was clear evidence that the answer is “yes.” Let me remind you, this was before a global pandemic that isolated us even further. Here’s an updated look at how loneliness has impacted us since. Axios recently showed how AI might make this even worse.

But here’s the great thing. We, as Millennials, who once had to make effort to use payphones (some of us) instead of being able to reach in our pocket to call someone, have the power to simply put the phone down. Last year, I accidentally dropped my iPhone in my inflatable hot tub. For three days, it sat in a bag full of rice. These were some of the best days of the year for me.

With the caveat that I was fortunate enough to not have any emergencies where a smartphone would have come in handy, overall I was way more in tune with my thoughts. Additionally, by losing the ability to text at any moment, I had to make more effort to communicate with those around me. I had to use a landline phone and dial people. More time and thought went into every communication. I didn’t log into social media. I simply existed within my surroundings and remained largely free of the distractions and noise of the “always-on” digital world I had been so used to for years and years now.

As we get older, we have to find comfortable ways to both keep up with technology, but also monitor our own usage of it. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution necessarily, but try taking a longer break every now and then from your smartphone and see how you feel.

THE VERDICT: It’s okay to not check your phone every 7 minutes, 144 times a day. It’s also still okay to wear your cap backwards.

Less Deep(ish) Millennial Stuff of the Week

• “HBO MAX" IS NOW JUST “MAX” APPARENTLY. Yeah, it’s weird. We’re mad to lose all of those good nostalgic HBO memories, but we’ll get over it. CNBC highlighted 4 things to know now about the rebranded network.

• TARGET HAS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MASSIVE THEFT. Target is on pace to lose $1.2 billion in profits due to ongoing product theft, as reported by Yahoo!. In-store theft is becoming a growing problem in many retailers across the country. I still can’t even figure out self-checkout half the time.

• MONTANA BANS TIKTOK! Last week, Governor Greg Giafonte signed a bill banning all TikTok use in the state of Montana. CNN noted that this is the furthest step a state has taken to restrict social media access. Expected to be challenged, the law is currently set to go into effect in January and comes with $10,000 fines for violations of it. Unrelated, I accidentally deleted my own TikTok last week.

• TACO BELL WANTS TO END TACO TUESDAY… “Taco Tuesday” trademark restrictions that is. The fast food giant announced that it wants to “liberate” usage rights for the make-believe weekly food holiday from lesser known small business taco chain, Taco John’s. As reported by Bleacher Report, LeBron James is now in on the battle as well.

• NETFLIX CRACKS DOWN ON PASSWORD SHARING. The Verge reported that if you want to share your Netflix account with another person outside of your own household, you’ll have to pay an additional $7.99 to do so. Be a good friend, why won’t you?!

• SOCIAL SECURITY INSECURITY? In addition to losing free access to Netflix, Millennials and Gen Z have more to worry about as the Social Security benefits situation looks continually murky according to MarketWatch.

• NEW YORK CITY IS SINKING. The buildings have become too heavy to support, CNN stated. That move to the suburbs is looking pretty, pretty good, huh?

Millennial Product Spotlight

Last week, we highlighted a timeless cleaning product to help you with all of your chores. This week, we want you to take some time off from it all and have some good clean fun. Do you know the origin story of one of our childhood favorites, the Koosh Ball?

Coming in at #84 on TIME’s “All Time 100 Greatest Toys” list, the Koosh Ball was born in the late 80s when engineer Scott Stillenger was teaching his kids how to play catch. His kids basically couldn’t catch (allegedly) so he made something easy for their tiny fingers to hold. The name itself came from the sound the ball made when it landed in his hands.

The Koosh Ball went on to be a huge staple in the Rosenberg upbringing. It continues to be sold in its original form, as well as new brand extensions, to this day.

Millennial Album Spotlight

After sitting on the Curb Your Millennialism porch over the weekend, we’ve decided it’s time to share more on the music we love with our official “Still Rocks” stamp of approval for the best music of the greatest generation.

The first album to get this exclusive nod is Third Eye Blind’s 1997 self-titled masterpiece, entitled, uh, Third Eye Blind.

Now, I am no musical expert. To read a much more thorough breakdown on why this album is so good from professionals who are, Pitchfork has you covered. But I can confidently say that this 57 minute, 43 second masterpiece pairs perfectly with a Tröegs Troegenator after nailing down the loose board on your deck that has been bugging you all week long. (Prefer a non-alcoholic beverage? Maybe try the one I wrote about here.)

Come for instantly recognizable hits such as the band’s infectious first singles, “Semi-Charmed Life,” “How’s It Going to Be?,” and “Jumper.” Stay for lesser known masterpieces like "Losing a Whole Year,” “Narcolepsy,” and “Motorcycle Drive By.”

Listen now.

That’s all for this episode…

Before I go, a little about me:

I’ve been in omnichannel marketing, business development, sales and operations for startups and big brands alike for over 15 years now. If you’d like to talk with me about consulting, find me on LinkedIn or Twitter or reply to this email. Or you can get creative, I know you have it in you!

Thanks for tuning in. Until next time…