Tech Users - The Next Generation
By Lyn Slater
The other night I was sitting with my 17 year-old son as he showed me some of his favorite websites, blogs etc. on his laptop. He has motor oil in his veins so most things are related to cars. After watching a number of YouTube clips made by young guys racing their hyped-up cars, sound tracks of BOVs, and other things that the nervous mother of a teen shouldn’t see, he turned to his third favorite topic (after surfing) —music.
He pulls up a series of clips including a (cute) girl singing and playing a ukulele, the “Hyperactive Editing” Norwegian kid and a trio of people (you only see their hands) who formed a musical group playing iPhones.
It dawned on me that our upcoming generation, with their early exposure to technology, total lack of fear , and ability to ignore traditional advertising and spin, may just be the most original, ingenious and creative ever. No, that’s not just a mother’s pride talking, think about it. They not only embrace existing uses of technology (texting, digital videos, photos and music, social networking sites) but they are always seeking new uses and share these uses globally.
To them, technology is a series of tools (or toys) to play with, adapt and create. The incredible beauty of this is that they choose to create because it’s fun and satisfying, not because they want to impress anyone, make money, or become a star – well, maybe some do. With the easy communication options, they can learn from what others have done and build on it. And these “others” are not just kids from their own neighborhood or school, but from around the world.
I’m naturally an optimist so I can’t help but feel that the current (Ys and millennials?) generations of teens, tweens and tots could represent the next evolutionary stage of mankind. They didn’t discover fire, fashion a wheel, or invent the computer, but they integrate their formal education, passions and interests to connect, communicate and create in a free and uninhibited way. So go ahead and buy your kid the latest, laptop, smartphone, electric guitar or DSLR camera they ask for and watch what happens.
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