Eating Disorders

Technology Limits

Every generation differs with its pros and cons and Generation “y” is no exception. Generation “y” is known for its extensive knowledge in technology and unless one has not been living on planet earth for the past couple of years one has heard about the internet, television or video games. Almost every home in the word has at least one of those technological devices. There are no restrictions as to what people can view on the internet or the television and how long they can view it for. Is this lack of restriction disabling generation “y” social skills needed for real life situations? In fact, the fast pace of computers, internet information, televisions, and video games have made Generation “y” spoiled and programmed. With an enormous amount of technological activities available to Generation “y” since they were toddlers the lack of communications and social skills is the end result. Real life situations mold people for their future. Since Generation “y” is known for their technology saturated environment; this generation has to recognize that it takes a combination of communications, personal interactions, and electronics combined to prepare and succeed in life. A lot has changed in the past 20 years and Generation “Y” the cause.

Contrasting to every generation prior to them, Generation “y” stands out dramatically because of their demand of instant digital satisfaction. John Eger describes the rapid growth of technology. “Internet usage statistics point to one billion users worldwide, with a growth rate of 15% per month. The World Wide Web, the Internet's most popular component, is being integrated into the marketing, information, and communications strategies of almost every major corporation, educational institution, charitable and political organization, community service agency, and government entity in the developed world. No previous communications advance has been adopted by the public so widely so rapidly.”(John Eger) One can see how savvy Generation “Y” is with technology. The majority of students from this generation were already using computers by the time they reached their teens, if not younger. The bulk of college students own computers and check their e-mail daily. Almost every individual from Generation “Y” uses a cell phone, instant messenger or text messaging on a daily bases. Does this constant use of technology and short text messages affect their communication skills? One might believe that the loss of personal interaction will have this effect. They also regularly use the Internet to help with their schoolwork and e-mail to communicate with their professors. Student’s college experiences are precious. Interaction between professors and students are mandatory for growth and development. With generation “y” the personal experiences in the class room seem to end at the door on their way out.

This technology overload begins even before children enter elementary school. The new babysitters for Generation “y” are televisions, video games and the internet. While today’s kids are sedated by technology, the parents are able to take care of their own needs. The down fall of this distraction is the child is not learning social skills from the parent’s role modeling. Jordan Kaplan, professor at Long Island University-Brooklyn, gives an example of Generation “Y” gathering too much information from technology instead of role molding. “Generation Y is much less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type of management still popular in much of today's workforce…They've grown up questioning their parents, and now they're questioning their employers. They don't know how to shut up, which is great, but that's aggravating to the 50-year-old manager who says, 'Do it and do it now."(USA Today) This shows Generation “y” is learning to question authority young in life. Where is the parental authority? Long car rides have now become easier because of televisions in cars and the alternative “ipods”. What happened to playing games or asking someone how their day was? This interaction teaches children genuine life long lessons. The children are no longer learning from real situations but are merely retaining and questioning what they see on television.

Where are the limitations on what our generation views and interacts with on televisions, video games and the internet? Due to technology, since 1996, the television industry created the TV Parental Guidelines. These guidelines are a rating system designed to give parents information about the content of television programs their children are viewing. This is in hope that the parent will monitor what their children are retaining. Ratings on television shows have greatly improved, however with the lack of