Not only is there a concern for how
parenting will be affected from this influx in technology, but also how
different generations will interact together moving forward. Because technology
is changing so fast, every year of age difference between people is now harder
to overcome. Older people grew up in a landscape that was so culturally different
than today’s youth. These differences can bring about potential problems in how
people of different ages get along. For example, because “people are remaining
in the workforce longer, three and sometimes four generations are working
together in a typical business…(sometimes) individuals have vastly different
cultural references, are motivated by different things, use the tools in the
workplace differently, and, most importantly, communicate differently”
(Schneider, Weiss 29). These differences can cause a lot of unintended and
unnecessary “intergenerational workplace tension” (Schneider, Weiss 30). As Van
Dijk discussed in “Social Structure in the Network Society,” this digital
divide has formed not just from who has access to the technology but more about who can develop the skills necessary to use that technology. The difference in
literacy skills for older people is becoming harder to overcome. Overall, it
seems that it is up to the businesses rather than the employees to adapt to
changes in the modern workplace to insure operations run smoothly and employee
relations are tension free.
Another
main focus of this book was how technology will effect how people voice their
opinions. With the Internet so accessible, young or old people can share their
stance on issues to a mass audience in a manner of seconds. A recent study by
the Pew Research Center found that, “users aged 18-24 were the least likely to
of all age groups to e-mail a public official or make an online political
donation. But when it came to using the web to share political news or join
political causes on social networks, they were far ahead of everyone else”
(Schneider, Weiss 32). The Internet allows people to voice their opinions
easily, but the question remains how much real-life implications will come from
online expression. One blogger that studied and wrote about the revolutions in
Egypt said “You cannot stop people any longer. You cannot control them any
long. They can bypass your established media; they can broadcast to one
another; the can organize as never before” (Srinivasan 51).
If used correctly
and in a centralized manner, the Internet can help people gather like never
before. But, just because people have access to this technology does not necessarily
mean it will be used properly. Slacktivism was mentioned later in this article
and Closer Together Further Apart as well. This is the idea that people will be
active online and share their opinions but will rarely ever make real world
changes or assemble in person.
Technology has changed the way
people gather and interact. It can bring people together and just as easily
tear them apart. Today, there is very little separating people from
communicating even if they are thousands of miles apart. The Internet, and
other forms of technological advancements, have limited time and space
distantiation and allowed people to connect with information and other people
like never before.
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