Can technology cause a gap between generations?

Today, a generational tug-of-war appears to exist due to the advancement of technology. Consider how it used to be normal to knock on a neighbor’s door to borrow a cup of sugar—and how our grandparents might still do it now. But today, with just a few taps on a grocery delivery app, we can have a whole bag of sugar delivered to our doorsteps. Navigating the web and connecting with people over the internet was more complicated in the early days. And to some extent, younger generations are born into a society that is reliant on communicating with technology.

When it comes to how technology affects the generation gap, it’s about a lot more than being able to download any apps or movies or shop online.  One of the reasons younger generations are more at ease with technology is that they have never known the world in any other way. They grew up in a digital world. This is also why older generations may be hesitant to participate in online activities, as it is completely new to them. They are newcomers to the digital world. The past generations are also slower to leverage the internet or linked devices and are often unaware of how they function in the first place—and the dangers associated with them. Before, everyone tended to share common influences such as watching the news and TV together. Current generations, on the other hand, will turn to online resources to have fun. This expands the gap between the generations as it has transformed each and every aspect of their lives. 

Technology is constantly evolving, and each digital generation needs to adjust at its own pace, whether it’s toddlers turning into YouTube kids on their tablets or the elderly preferring email over texting to communicate with family and friends. Constantly looking at their phones is normal for millennials, but it may not be socially acceptable for older people. Thus, both generations have to come together and learn from one another.