Bird Box themed game reflects cyberstupidity

The New Year is often a source of new trends. Breaking news during the winter break included events like a government shutdown and a presidential visit to our troops in Syria.

In terms of millennials’ strange habits; a new Netflix film, “Bird Box” has provoked a new and dangerous game which involves blindfolding oneself and engaging in daily activities. The Sandra Bullock film deals with a monster whose danger stems from sight.

For some reason, someone thought it would be a fitting homage – and a fun activity – to disable what is perhaps the most useful of our senses.

It is interesting how our generation reacts to media phenomena. There is a need to satirize everything through the adoption of behavior in popular media into our daily lives; but done so in a way that is totally incoherent.

Perhaps the most emblematic manifestation of this behavior is memes. Interestingly, “Bird Box” memes were also prevalent in this New Year’s memeology.

All of this points to a powerful influence on behavior on the part of memes, which are in turn influenced by more general products of popular culture such as Netflix.

Only millennials do this. It is a behavior we invented and have mainstreamed, and may lead to terrible consequences. Today is blindfolding, tomorrow may be something far worse.

We must foster a culture of independent, critical thought and behavior disconnected from things like trends. Peer pressure has always been around, but we live in the time period in which bad ideas can be most easily spread, and can therefore do the most damage.

Thankfully, we also live in a time where good ideas are easily shared, meaning it is our job as millennial journalists to dissuade people from engaging in destructive behavior.

Our generation may have the rare privilege in world history of fixing the problems we ourselves created.

With regards to the blindfolding game: some things are simply indefensible and should not be given an iota of credit. Rather, they should be criticized and disavowed whenever possible.

Otherwise, even films that deserve praise like the new Sandra Bullock film may be overshadowed by childishness. We should always be aware of the repercussions our actions may have.

With regards to the blindfolding game: some things are simply indefensible and should not be given an iota of credit.

Rather, they should be criticized and disavowed whenever possible.

Let’s do our best to make sure that this new year breeds new and healthier communicative habits.

One thing is certain, millennials and digital natives are arguably the most intriguing generation ever to exist.

Photo by Oscar Keys on Unsplash