A New Generation Gap?

There was an interesting article in USAToday recently on a possible growing generation gap in how people use communication media. An article entitled “Online Privacy? For Young People That’s Old School” first published October 22, 2007, discussed how the internet, cell phones, etc, have revolutionized the way young people deal with relationships, and how they even view what others know about them. As one young person put it,

"Maybe that's the main difference between the current generation and older generations. We want to be in touch with people and our friends and stay connected through the Internet, whereas security and privacy is maybe a secondary concern to us."

For parents with kids who are Facebook/Myspace oriented and internet/cell phone savvy, how does this comment strike you? Do you value your children being in touch with people more than their security and privacy? Note that the article doesn’t say that kids don’t care about such things. It simply implies that in today’s world, kids might be willing to sacrifice something we think is important, in order to get something they think is more important.

Technology shapes us. It is shaping our children. The question is, do we like the mold into which they are being shaped?

To read the complete article, go here.