I’ve always been someone who loves receiving letters in the mail and calling my friends on the phone (who doesn't?), but technology has made it simpler. With texting, emails, and FaceTime or Skype, communication between people has become so simple that it's faster and more frequent. It's argued that a specific generation is more “hooked” on technology than any other generation, and that is Generation Y. Generation Y is a generation of people born between the 1980s and the year 2000. Older generations argue that Generation Y is hooked on, and maybe even obsessed with technology more than other generations, to the point that it consumes their lives. However, in my experience, this isn't completely accurate.
I am a 19-year-old female, who was born in 1996 (therefore part of what researchers define as Generation Y), and I have access to various forms of technology. My phone is almost always with me, as it basically has everything on it -- email, texting, calling, and social media. I feel like I’ve become more inclined to spend my time on my phone or computer due to living in a dorm and attending college. With basically all of my homework, syllabi, textbooks, and notes on my computer, it’s become essential to frequently use it. But I mean, who pays over $1,000 for a computer and never uses it? And the same goes with my phone, in the sense of communication. I always have my phone on me in case my parents need to reach me or in the instance of an emergency.
Now, aside from that, I am an avid texter and I do enjoy scrolling through my Twitter or Instagram feed, but I’ll admit it. I’m not ashamed to say that I do utilize my technology frequently; it’s just become a part of my life. But it irritates me whenever my dad says that I always use my phone or computer. As previously stated, I never refuted this statement because I knew it was at least somewhat true, but I’m here today to counter this argument.
It wasn’t until I went out to lunch with my dad that I realized that technology has become a key part in everyone’s life. As I sat there making conversation with my dad, I realized something. I noticed that he was on his phone the entire time. This surprised me because usually it was me on my phone, but this time it was him. A man, not part of Generation Y, was staring at his phone while conversing with his daughter, rather than making eye contact.
It was at that moment that I somewhat understood what my parents must have felt like whenever they tried to converse with me, and all I did was stare blankly at my phone. I now knew how upset or ignored they must have felt, but I also felt as if my dad was slightly hypocritical. He often lectured me about always using my phone, but he doesn’t realize how much he uses his phone too. This might just be my issue as well – not realizing how much technology consumes my life. I am attempting to become more aware of how often I use my phone and computer. I find myself being so worried about taking photos and posting them on Snapchat, rather than actually enjoying where I am and what I am doing.
Now I know I definitely use my phone more than he does, but the constant use of technology isn’t just something that is a flaw or problem of Generation Y. The constant use of technology is something that affects everyone. So with that, I am defending my generation, Generation Y, when it comes to technology. We may use our technology very frequently, but we’re not the only ones, now are we?
