Louis Michael: The generation technology gap
The technological rift between my generation and my parents’ generation fascinates me. I would go so far as to say never before in history has there been such a considerable and gargantuan gulf between two generations. The industrial revolution of the victorian era comes a close second, but had nothing close to the impact on individual daily life that the recent strides in technology have created.
The surge in technological developments in the last twenty years has revolutionised the world, and in doing so has erased the world that the baby boomer generation grew up in. Now anything that might trigger nostalgia in the midlife majority is labelled as retro, massively outdated and only good for throwbacks and blasts from the past. The 40-59 age bracket might often find themselves in the strange position of being dated as ancient when kids realise with shock horror that “you were around before colour TVs!?”. Actually kids, those grown ups aren’t as close to dinosaurs as you might think. They’re just the unfortunate victims of an unprecedented spike in technological growth that makes them seem like they’re centuries old rather than only decades.
They’re victims of an unprecedented spike in technlogical growth
But what are the ramifications of this generational gap? One could argue that growing up in two such different worlds makes it harder for adults to relate to children. How can you engage with the youth when you don’t know what a meme is, you write texts like they’re letters, and you still think lol stands for lots of love – it’s laugh out loud, dad, how many times do I have to tell you? Older adults are often left feeling frustrated as they try to find the key to unlocking this new technotopia: they don’t realise that it’s all touchscreen locks now.
On the other end you have children who’ve become immunised to the fumbling technophobic oldies, toddlers who can work tablets better than adults, and a whole new world of social interaction that results in parents desperately trying to make themselves technologically literate in order to supervise their kids.
It’s birthed a strange dynamic between the old and young that turns the previously accepted paradigm of obligatory elder superiority on its head. In this the-future-is-now-world why would you defer to the past? Wisdom, that’s why. Regardless of what world your elders grew up in, the fact of the matter is they grew up. They grew up, they survived, and they’ve accumulated a lifetime of wisdom to help you do exactly the same. Don’t forsake a helping hand just because it might not be fast at texting.
