Don Tapscott’s book Grown Up Digital tackles the subject of how the internet has enhanced the lives of the youngest generation. In the introduction the negative views of how the internet has changed us is addressed. Critics say that because of the internet my generation has become lazy and wont suceed when they get to the outside world. William Damon writes in The Path to Purpose that we do not have motivation and are not ready to face the outside world. He feels that we will waste our time because of what we focus on , such as myspace or facebook, and not be good employees.
I have to admit there are parts of this agree with. I am guilty of procrastinating on facebook instead of starting my homework, and it is hard for me to do anything without my cell phone with me. This can make it hard for me to focus on the things I should be focusing on. We all constantly have a outlet for entertainment wherever we go. Because of this we don't listen or do things that we don't want to.
But, all of this that I agree with is because I am in college still. Even though I focus on trivial things in my use of internet I also am so much more knowledgeable in technology than the generations of employees above us. This is necessary because our world is constantly progressing in its use of technology. From what I’ve seen while in college everyone seems really sure of what they want to do when they get out of here. This is a really competitive generation and we are motivated. I am sure that when the older generations looked to our parents generations they accused them being as lazy when they were growing up as well. We will be prepared when it's time for us to leave our mark on society.
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I have to also agree with you that our generation constantly has an outlet for entertainment. This results in a constant distraction. I am also in college and I definitely know that I procrastinate by going on facebook when I should be doing my homework. However, there is flipside to this. Our generation has had to learn to succeed in high school and college with many distractions. The people that make it through college with ambition to have jobs have obviously excelled with distractions. Therefore, as employees, we will be able to fight the temptations that generations before us could not handle. When work needs to be completed, I am confident that our generation will succeed in finishing the task.
ReplyDeleteAccording to US News and World Report, August 2009: "Thirty percent of college and university students drop out after their first year. Half never graduate, and college completion rates in the United States have been stalled for more than three decades." I'm not sure your generation learned how to succeed with distractions in high school. Many of you succeeded in spite of distractions and when you get to college, you have to learn how to tune them out and turn them off in order to succeed.
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