These days, having more diplomas does make you appear as a more employable and trustworthy person. But as you can imagine, there will be people that take advantage of that. They want to highlight a plethora of diplomas, so it’s common for them to use a fake diploma just because they can. And that’s become a lot more prevalent with the Gen Z and millennials. Why is that happening, what leads people to this type of action? Let’s find out!
One of the things that we all need to realize with this is that the college tuition costs are 180% higher when compared to the 80s. That is a huge difference, and it just goes to show the opportunities that you can access are smaller. You have to pay a lot of money for a degree that may or may not have great value in the long term. All these small things matter, and you have to place it all in perspective.
Moreover, the student debt situation is very problematic. Millennials on their own collected over $1.7 trillion in student debt. They then have to repay the debt back, which ends up placing a major hassle on their livelihood and the way they grow as a person. It’s becoming more and more challenging to live a life without student debt, and that can also lower the opportunities you access in life.
Then, there’s also the fact that we see credential inflation. More and more companies are asking for multiple credentials these days, mainly because they want to be 100% sure that you are a skilled professional. That definitely encourages people to get a fake degree, thinking that more diplomas will give them the upper hand. That’s not always going to happen, and it’s clearly an issue people have to understand as well as deal with.
Both Gen Z and millennials are affected by the way society perceives diplomas right now. There’s a lot of pressure from family, social circles and so on to have a multitude of diplomas. They think that’s the way someone shows they are smart, intelligent and successful in life. Naturally, everyone wants to be perceived in such a manner. And that’s why some people will try to get a fake diploma, as a way to feel socially validated.
There’s also more emphasis on personal branding. People understand and feel the idea that having more degrees makes their brand stronger. So they are continually focused on adding personal information related to branding, it allows them to continually push the limits, and if it’s all handled appropriately, it will only make things better.
Additionally, you have to think about the shifting career values. These days, generations focus more on entrepreneurship, passion projects and skills. They are not as interested in corporate paths, like most people were in the past. And that’s why you always have to understand that there will be a societal pressure to think about evolving, getting a fake degree or ways to move onward as a personal brand. Even if they don’t go the corporate route, millennials and Gen Z also want to have degrees and diplomas to highlight their expertise and might.
Yes, technology is a major factor to consider when it comes to this situation. Gen Z and millennials tend to stay a lot of the time online, and they have access to tech. Obviously, when they are like that, it does make sense for some of them to enter the fake diploma world. And if they think that a fake diploma will further their growth and bring some nice credentials, they will definitely try to access something like that, if it does help them in any way.
Also, the quality is quite realistic. While fake degrees are not the same as the real deal and will never be, they tend to be quite similar and for many people, that’s enough. Add to that the DIY culture that a lot of people think about, and you can clearly see how it all comes together with the prevalence of fake diplomas appearing these days.
We always feel the need for validation and for others to appreciate our work and what we are doing. All those psychological factors are extremely important, and they clearly showcase the excitement and fun that we can have, in a rather unique and exciting manner. With that being said, that desire for validation could push people towards getting a fake degree in the first place.
We can also talk about the generational frustration that comes from having a degree. Just because you have a degree or a diploma doesn’t guarantee you a workplace. It used to be the case in the past, but that’s not the case anymore. And obviously, it feels frustrating for someone who studied for a very long time to enter the job market as a newcomer and not have a guaranteed workplace. That lowers your confidence levels, and it pushes you to the extremes, sometimes.
Also, some Gen Z and millennials use fake degrees as a way to showcase some self-deprecating humor or just make fun of others. Regardless of how you choose this, clearly it’s a challenge to showcase what you believe in and also the different ways you can enhance your focus as someone who wants to maintain a professional attitude.
Of course it is, since it can bring legal consequences, aside from the obvious situation when you will lose your job. You should never lie on the job application, use a fake degree for licensing or any application, etc. Presenting a fake degree in any legal setting is very problematic, and it can bring you severe problems in the long term. That’s why you always have to be very careful when it comes to what you use such a degree for. If it’s for a prank or just random personal uses, fine, but once you start using it to further your career, that becomes an issue.
Instead of going with a fake diploma, you are much better off checking online certifications, going with skill-based portfolios or micro-credentials and badges. Even technical and trade training can prove to help quite a bit. In general, if you want to lie in your resume and use a fake diploma, there are very high chances that you will get caught. You really want to avoid that as much as possible, and instead focus on building up real credentials for yourself. There will always be people that are willing to risk things for immediate gratification, though.
Gen Z and millennials always expect things to happen fast, and that’s why these categories tend to focus a lot on using fake diplomas. They want that instant gratification, and don’t really have the patience to earn a degree normally, if they even have access to it. A lot of them are caught lying in resumes, in an effort to try and surpass competitors. Sometimes it works, but a lot of the time, companies verify credentials and diplomas, and that’s why fake degrees can only go up to a certain point!
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