NetGen Isn’t About Age
One thing I keep hearing over and over again at the technology conference (and elsewhere) is this concept of “NetGen.” Usually it’s followed up by references to “young people” and followed up by convincing anecdotal references to commenter’s children, grandchildren, etc. and how plugged in they are.
Perhaps I am wrong on this (and I plan to research this a little more after the conference), but it seems to me that NetGen is a cultural phenomena, not an age-related phenomena. Certainly there is no doubt that recent generations have grown up with technology and have been exposed to it very early on. And, yes, there are generational differences that we can’t ignore; but we don’t do ourselves any favors by assuming technological and social media proficiency based on age.
This kind of ageism can be offensive to older and younger members alike. Don’t risk being called a condescending fool (like Mr. T—a boomer—calls a popular video game company in a commercial aimed towards attracting other boomers to the game).
| | Permalink |
Comments
Ok Caron, I'll stoke the fires a little.
I think I disagree that the term NetGen--or whatever it is called in its various forms--should not be used to identify the generation that has grown up using the internet.
I think that a decade from now, researchers, sociologists, etc., will use the birth of the web as a demarcation line for a generation, just as World War II is used.
I do think people who grew up surrounded by the connections of the web have a different basis of experience than previous generations.
Where I think you hit the bullseye is in making assumptions about a person based on something like when they were born. What gets me tired is stereotyping -- when you were born, what you look like, how you talk, your socioeconomic situation... whatever legitimate or misguided notions you may have about a group breaks down entirely at the individual level.
I don't think it's inappropriate to talk about generational differences. But I do think that most people do not go near far enough to say that when talking about such differences, it is very dangerous to apply the thinking in narrow contexts.
Posted by: Scott Briscoe | February 1, 2008 3:07 PM
One great example of the danger of applying broad generational information to specific individuals: The American Society for Microbiology has a great blog called "Small Things Considered," which I think is one of my favorite blog names of all time. And the blogger-in-chief, Moselio Schaechter, happens to be over 80 (according to what an ASM staffer said in a session I attended today). If ASM had assumed that all bloggers had to be Gen Y, they'd have missed out on this gentleman's great work.
Posted by: Lisa Junker | February 1, 2008 5:13 PM
Thank you Scott and Lisa.
I want to and need to look into this whole subject a little more. If you find anymore resources, I am certainly interested.
Posted by: Caron Mason | February 1, 2008 5:52 PM
Lisa,
I am very grateful for your kind words. And thanks to everyone else for standing up for the bifocal set. We may not have the technical agility of our grandchildren but, with a little bit of help, can make up for it-we hope-with our experience and perspective. Also, I confess that I'm having the time of my life with the blog and other activities. BTW, the title, Small Things Considered, is by Chris Condayan of the American Society for Microbiology
Posted by: Elio Schaechter | February 2, 2008 10:32 AM
Thanks Lisa and Elio for the great comments. I thought I would share this video I produced last year which features Elio and several other scientists/researchers/grad students on why they blog - http://youtube.com/watch?v=B3sa9f26o8E
What's interesting about this video is the diversity and age range of the folks I interviewed. It basically dispels the notion of "netgen" without being overt about it.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Chris Condayan | February 4, 2008 3:06 PM