The Digital Generation

I was born in 1992, so I can relate to a lot of what is described in this article. I took DTC 475 last semester, which analyzes the shift in culture due to the advancements in technology over the last decade or two. There are good and bad things about it, obviously. The internet has given people access to knowledge about pretty much anything so they can become more informed citizens and more well-rounded people as a whole. Texting has made our lives easier by getting straight to the point of conversations (I'm that kind of communicator, although I do engage in the "how are you doing, how is life" conversations with people I haven't talked to in a while). Having so many devices can be overwhelming, though, and feeling the constant need to be connected to others through the internet can have negative effects. We have all judged ourselves based on what other people say they are doing on Facebook while we are home alone watching Netflix with our cat. I wouldn't feel as bad about myself if I didn't know Jenny is going boating and everyone else on my "friends" list has cool stuff to do. Being a digital native is a new experience and I'm interested to see how the next generation will handle life situations growing up every more connected. My brother is 13 and has had a cell phone for two years now. He doesn't even know what VHS tapes are and he is constantly texting his friends and posting new mirror pics on Facebook. He also spends hours on end playing Call of Duty on his xbox, so learning how to balance the real world and the virtual world will definitely be a task for him as he gets older.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2013/04/genwired/