The youth of any generation. Do they ever listen to anybody who may have lived just a bit longer, or is it me that thinks this current generation of young people believe everything that the Internet and social media tell them, thus making their opinions fool proof, and God forbid you question it or even refute it as not true, making our opinions null and void.
There seems to be an attitude by the current teenagers that they know the answer to everything and they simply don’t listen or take notice of anybody that has lived a little bit longer and I don’t mean elderly people, just people with a little bit more life experience. The question is why is that?
There could be a number of reasons I imagine, but here is my take on this subject.
The teenagers of today have a confidence that I never had at their age. They are very forward and certainly not frightened to voice what they think, but why is that? Possibly because they’re on the information treadmill and of course in today’s world it’s at their fingertips.
If they don’t understand something they can just Google it. This of course was something that was not available to me as a child. Growing up I was lucky to find a book in our house let alone a dictionary. So consequently if I wanted advice or wanted to know something I would have to ask somebody older with more life experience than me, but it taught me a great life lesson, which is to listen and the chances are I would learn something. A lesson that I adhere to this very day.
What does Google teach? Yes you can read all about what it is you want to know and it will all there all the required information, but nothing substitutes hearing quite often the same information from somebody that has actually experienced what you are possibly reading about. Then that knowledge is far more powerful and more likely to stay with you because you always remember that person sharing their knowledge with you and quite often with a back story that is told with a passion, because after all Google doesn’t have a heart or passion.
Back to my main issue which is what this is all about. Young people quite often not being willing to take advice or even listen. Do they feel that they have all this information via the technological highway, that I might I add is available to everybody, but teenagers seem to think it’s their own exclusive zone and possibly they believe online knowledge more than if they are told something by somebody who is older.
This is worrying that the youth actually believe that everything online is true because we all know that is not the case and a lots of lies are told there too.
My biggest fear especially with our four year old twins is the reliance on knowledge and information won’t come from the spoken word, but via a laptop or smartphone etc.
Google becomes our lecturer, professor and teacher. Not something I want to see, but I will admit will most likely happen.
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11 Comments
Our Rach
September 2, 2016 at 7:03 am
Very interesting post Nige. I have to say, it's not just the current generation of teens who think they know everything but it was my generation of teens too, I soon realised once I became a parent that being a teenager doesn't automatically qualify you for thinking your opinion is the only one that matters. I do agree that teens seem to have a different level of confidence these days and I can't help but attribute that in part to social media and the easy access to information via technology etc. They seem to grow up at the speed of light these days and I find it sad. You're a long time an adult and not a kid without responsibilities, if I could impart any advice to the teens of today I'd say enjoy that lack of responsibility for as long as you can. #binkylinky
Reimer Ruby
September 2, 2016 at 7:33 am
Great post, so thought provoking! It's scary that new generations are likely to rely on google for advice and information and not on adults anymore, which I'm also a little worried. I still do hope that my own kids will come to me for personal guidance and enlightenment. #binkylinky
DadvWorld
September 2, 2016 at 9:06 am
I think you're right Nige and I'm definitely guilty of promoting the phrase 'Google it'. Generally I say this at the point of my 11 and 12 year-old girls questioning me or their mother, my response is 'Google it then' mainly to prove I'm right. Google will inevitably become the main source, if it isn't already, of learning. I suppose our role as parents is to try and teach them how to filter out the bad information from the good. Great post 🙂 #BinkyLinky
mummydaddy mia
September 2, 2016 at 10:29 am
Really interesting and I completely agree! I myself use google for everything, actually taking 'advice' from there over people giving me advice! It almost seems safer?! I think its so much easier for young people to get hold of information quicker and when they need it that it takes away from talking about issues or problems now.
#binkylinky
Sarah Howe
September 2, 2016 at 7:51 pm
I think all teens think they know best!! Parents what do they know?? I just think you are right…there is even more ways to get that info to dig their heels in and prove they are right!! Interesting times to come. Thank for hosting xx
Dave Freed
September 2, 2016 at 8:24 pm
The change from getting information from books to getting it from the internet has been really radical, totally agree, but it's also made learning a lot easier for kids. The problem is when a lot of what's on the internet isn't all that reliable. But parents still have a role that the internet can't replace in providing our kids with personal support and guidance… internet hasn't replaced us, yet 😉
#BinkyLinky
Becci The UnNatural Mother
September 3, 2016 at 7:00 am
I think we have built our own monstes.We give them access to computers , ipads & iphones from a young age and then they learn to use them better than us and look for advise from what they know . A screen ! #binkylinky
dmellor
September 3, 2016 at 11:26 am
You're dead right, as much as I think they're great tools, I think the likes of Google and Wikipedia have exacerbated the problem of the no it all generation. That said, I think the younger generation have always been this way – I certainly was – and sometimes parents just have to sit back and watch kids fail at something to give them that experience and maybe, just maybe, they'll be more willing to listen next time. But I doubt it haha.
Potty Adventures
#binkylinky
Jade – Raw Childhood
September 3, 2016 at 8:04 pm
An interesting read Nige. I am only 24 but ive been through a hell of a lot more than the normal 24 year old. I am the eldest of my siblings and I know what you mean, I try to give them advice etc and they don't want to listen, they think they know it all because they read something else online even though i've been through it myself. I obviously do look things up on the internet but if I know my dad or grandma etc have been through it then I definitely ask their advice etc. #binkylinky
Something Crunchy Mummy
September 4, 2016 at 5:04 pm
This is a really interesting post and I completely agree with you! Google has a lot to answer for and I have to admit I google everything! #binkylinky xx
omgitsagirl
September 8, 2016 at 10:12 pm
20+ years ago I thought I knew it all. Only once it was too late did I realise that I knew nothing!
My teenager thinks he knows it all, but not knowledge wise more "street wise"
He's too bloody lazy to even type into google preferring to speak it!!
I do get worried at his "It's on YouTube" so it must be true attitude though.
Reading it or listening to a video cannot substitute for first hand knowledge and being able to ask questions.
Great post Nige. Thanks for hosting #BinkyLinky