[tsunamifury]

The article never considers that the network effect of humanity may add up to a more productive whole, even if it appears to be made up of less productive individuals. This is the very nature of teamwork, and it's a good thing. Young people have to take longer to figure out what they should do, they can play and explore more, and make mistakes that don't starve their family.

I've observed the exact opposite of the folksyism of this article. Young people with increased play time were able to find more meaningful and more lucrative long term positions due to the luxury of explorations. Those forced to "grow up" early ended up in dead end positions due to suboptimization for short term needs.

But the New Yorker is hung up on the trope of individual success, as is the cultural center they arise from.