What’s an iGeneration Says a Baby Boomer?

What’s an  iGeneration Says a Baby Boomer?

“We have now discovered a separate generation, which we label the “iGeneration”, quotes Larry Rosen, Ph.D., in Rewired: the Psychology of Technology, (retrieved from Psychology Today website, June 8, 2012).  Through research, Rosen relays, children and teens born in the new millennium use abundantly mobile technology and media and the love of electronic communication will be known as the “iGeneration” (Millenials or NetGeneration).   Another generation to learn how to communicate with, we now have the “Silent” generation, “Baby Boomer” generation, “X” generation, “Net” Generation (I think use to be Y) but now  we have iGeneration who is not just one group but comprised of four age range groups.  What ever happened to children and adults?   Rosen claims the iGeneration to be our first truly cyber generation.  The “Silent” generation is slipping away; this may lead the “Baby Boomers” into a more defined position to bridge a gap between generations through technology and cyberspace.  Does this present a challenge or opportunity?

Rosen explains the data collected from surveys conducted indicated that children and teens use all their waking hours multitasking activities through cyberspace communication; really all of their waking hours?  These activities were being online, listening to music, iMing and chatting, texting, watching downloaded movies or TV shows, or sending or receiving e-mail.  Staggering thought even though older adults joining the net are on the rise also; it appears massive amounts of media are being devoured.  A question to ponder how would the generation gap be perceived in cyberspace or is there a gap at all?

               Rosaleen L. Dickson, veteran journalist, author and Webmaster said in an interview in 2003, at the age of 81, “it’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you questions anymore”, she calls this the society’s wisdom deficit.  Her interview went on to point out this attitude will go out of style and pointed out that elder wisdom can be found on the internet; nobody has a clue or knows it is coming from an older generation.  This may present an opportunity to the “Baby Boomers” in closing the generation gap between generations. It may be possible to embark elder wisdom and communicate to all the different generations without the preconceived notions that no matter one’s age we can learn from one another through communication in cyberspace.

References

Rosen, L., Ph.D., Rewired:  The Psychology of Technology, http://drlarryrosenmemyspaceandiblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-igeneration.html

Dickson, R. Article retrieved from Website. http://www.aginghorizons.com/2007/may2007-5.html