Essay Example on Generation Change: Tech Driving Rapid Transformation

Generation change is radical, and there are no prior warnings or indications when the change comes into effect. It is not clearly defined which years belong to which generation, but the changes are necessary because they help in identifying people. The definition of people based on race or gender is slowly becoming things of the past. Technology has been the central agent of change among the people of this generation. Twenge says, it is the only generation that was born with phones in their hands (Guzman and Scott 608). The digital generation has been glued to technology, and its rare people meet to interact. In his book kids these days, Malcolm Harris describes iGen'ers as the selfie generation. There is an increasing number of people who take risks for the sake of change compared to years before. Also, people born right back and right after have experienced primarily the same culture. Still, people born ten years apart but within the same generation have experienced a different culture. If a reformer is from the culture they are trying to reform, it is not as bad as a reformer from another culture trying to rebuild a different culture.

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Twenge and Harris on iGen'ersThere are newer products introduced into the market every month, if not daily. IGen'ers are primarily interested in the launch of new gadgets. Twenge calls it the iGen'ers because two in every three American teenagers own an iPhone. Most iGen'ers want products that make their life much more comfortable and without much hustle. These are machines such as computers, washing machines, and even toothpaste dispensers. Since the introduction of Facebook in the year 2004 and the first iPhone, new tech, and more sophisticated upgrades to the existing ones have been done. New technology, such as virtual reality, has been introduced and has revolutionized the theater experience. Twenge says of iGen'ers their phone is an integral part of their lives, and they spend more hours with their phones than actual people. The iGen embraces change that is beneficial to their course, not work hard but get the most out of free time an individual has. Many technical colleges focus majorly on technology, and also the presence of Silicon Valley in America is proof of how the iGen is consuming new technology products introduced in the market. The iGen'ers is the only generation that was born with phones on their hands, and practically, technology has been with them from the beginning. As Jean M. Twenge says, "Smartphones are unlike any other previous form of media, we are awake, the phone entertains, communicates, and glamourizes all infiltrating nearly every way of our lives, even when we are unconscious with sleep. While aspects of our lives, as indicated by the need to sleep inches ways from them even though they are potentially dangerous."( 113 ) Technology is not something we can ignore, and the iGen is at the center of its new inventions every day that make life easier for them, and with that encourage laziness more and more. Technology has not just made the iGen save time on the tasks they do but also impacted negatively on the way things are supposed to be done.

"Things that make life easier change it. When you see people arguing on Reddit until 3 a.m. about the logic of Game of Thrones, that technology comes with a negative effect," as reported by Scott Canon, the Kansas City star (Guzman and Scott 609). The uptake of new media makes change come gradually, and swift most of the iGen have had some accident related to the use of technology. Many iGen'ers want to own the latest technological gadget, and some of them go to great lengths to own such and might acquire them through fraudulent means such as theft. The uptake of new technology affects significantly the social life of iGen'ers, and as Malcolm Harris says, when we look at the conditions under which environmental conditions under which Americans are developing, a lack of trust makes sense as a survival adaptation. A market that doles out success on an increasingly individual basis is not a strong foundation for high levels of social interdependence. With all youth activities centered on the production of human capital, even team sports become sole pursuit (Harris 65).

Effects of technology on social skills and social networking

The average iGen'ers have become more fixated on themselves other than pursuing their interest through effort and communication or involving others in their endeavors. The social cycle has become something distant and unachievable. Most iGen'ers would rather spend time on their phones than go physically to be with their friends. The integration of such technology to social settings is proving a challenge for people, and physical interaction is being taken over by video calls through platforms such as Sykpe and WhatsApp. New technology has brought privatization of life where people want to use the technology privately, and this leads to a considerable gap in the social cycle and encourages generational differences making it hard for millennials, boomers, and generation X to catch up. People have become more reclusive, and people are going out less and less compared to the ears before the technological storm introduced the iGen to a world with other possibilities. Many iGen'ers, as Twenge puts it in her book would, instead of voice out their issues through social media than actually taking action toward the course they advocate. Social, physical interactions have become less and less, and many people are struggling to maintain a conversation when they meet physically and would; instead, they talked through the phone. There is no importance attached to social interactions because even in the family iGen'ers are becoming more and more rebellious, making family interactions even harder. Socializing has solely remained online through some form of technology, and if one does not know to use such technology, they would be locked out of an iGen'ers social cycle.

It is disheartening to see people prefer their phones and other technological media such as gaming consoles from interacting with actual people. Phones have replaced people, and it is estimated that out of three Americans, two probably own a phone. These gadgets have seemingly replaced people because you can be with someone by calling, texting, or video calling. And Twenge points out that these iGen'ers have a philosophy of being there with you, not physically but "virtually." Technology has seen the decline of extended nuclear families because people have become more fixated with themselves and spend less and less time with others. The social changes have affected not only the family but also shaped the dynamics of the workplace and how people interact with one another. Technological advancement has brought a gap between those who have mastered technology and those who have not, and the difference is more prominent on a social perspective. Machines have made it easier for people to complete tasks in time and have some free time of not doing work-related activities and therefore leave room for interaction with one another. Technology also enhances social interactions when an exporter meets an individual who has not mastered the technique, and they have to teach them how to use technology. Technological advancement is being introduced regularly, and they touch many aspects of life, thus making them an integral part of life for the iGen. The negative side of technology among iGen'ers is the rising number of depressions. As statistics show, within a small period between 2011 to date, the cases often depression have increased with a high number in teenage suicides.

Slow-life strategy

Twenge sees the iGen as a generation growing slowly, where instead of taking action against the actions they see are wrong, they want those things to be done for them by a third party. Generational change does not come with a warning, and people can be cut off when they least expect, and the consequence of the switch on the experiences of people from each generation will be different (Twenge 45). IGen'ers are going out less, relationships do not matter to them, and money is a priority over intrinsic values. The generation is not in a hurry to grow up, and most iGen'ers in their adolescence still behave as though they are still babies. It is a generation where socialization is through the phone, and letting people into one's life is through posting photos and videos on social media platforms. It is a generation where people are "loners," but in reality, they are connected through technology. The trend is not in America alone but also the rest of the world.

Effects of technology on mental health of iGen'ersThe generation Twenge says, suffers from mental illnesses because of technology. The teenagers have become more sensitive and depressed because of the desire to become secure in the future and strive towards getting better jobs with good pay. People have become more addicted to technology, and it identifies a big part of their lives. Research has revealed that an average person more than eight times every hour (Campbell 331). The typical life of a teenager is practically their phone, which they check all the time for any new and exciting news of launch dates of different products. The technology has affected relationships, and most teenagers prefer to be single rather than a date because relationships are more demanding.

They do not leave room for a person to be themselves because they will always be seeking to be in relationships to find warmth and care they used to receive from the lady or man. Technology has influenced teenagers' interest in learning and drawing from the current world of joblessness; they do not see the need to nourish one's self with knowledge and those who are learned are out of jobs (Twenge 75). It is a generation that is high on empathy, but it is just talking, doing is another thing altogether. Their mental well-being is low because most of them are depressed, lonely, sleep-deprived, and with low self-esteem. Surveys show that on average, a teenager spends close to 98% of their free time on their mobile phones.

Work precarity

Twenge also talks about how technology has affected the mental wellbeing of iGen'ers and are more depressed and worry pretty much about everything (Harris 233). Job security for them is a priority, and most do not go to school so s to get knowledge, but for the sake of getting an excellent job in the future. From Twenge's view, technology is here to stay, and iGen will keep on being more and more sophisticated, bringing new dynamics to different aspects of life with their different opinions about life and the general purpose of humanity.

Harris also thinks technology has been a pivotal point for the emergence of iGen, and it is shaping other generations through the iGen, who are masters of technology. As days pass by, new technology is being invented. In a bid to make life easier, many iGen'ers would rather spend their time indoors with their phones or play video games than work or visit a colleague. These technological changes have come with both positive and negative impacts on the life of people. The iGen has had more mental and physical issues as a result of technology trying to impress their peers on social media. Harris maintains that other generations would have to try and cope up with iGen, but eventually, the iGen will take up political positions and introduce their way of thinking. Friendship has now evolved to Facebook and Instagram friendships, and as observed, more and more people feel lonely irrespective of having thousands of friends on social media sites.

People have become reliant on technology for communication. Verbal, physical interaction is becoming less and less as most of the people prefer communication via social media platforms such as texts and calls. Many c...