Observing The Generation Gap

Over the holidays at my in-laws, I took time to observe their behavior and compare it to mine.  My in-laws are in their 60s.  Each day they:

• Watched the local news on TV
• Watched the national news on TV
• Read the local paper for news
• Spent almost no time on the internet
• Carried no smart phone
• Spent almost no time on their cell phone

I compared that with my routines.  Each day I:

• Scan news headlines and some select articles in my RSS reader
• Scan the industry headlines on major technology news sites, and read what interests me
• Watch less than 15 minutes of TV ( unless there is a sporting event I care about, and even that is getting scarce )
• Use my iPhone all day for email, texting, checking out new apps, staying current, and oh yeah, talking to people
• Download a new app or read a book from my iPad
• Read a paper book for enjoyment
• Occasionally watch a movie, streaming it on Netflix or from my cable’s On Demand service

The young men on my basketball team:

• Respond to my emails with a text message
• Text each other from three feet away
• Spend four-five hours a day ( at least ) online either doing schoolwork or just hanging out with friends
• Spend the rest of their day on their phone

The contrast is remarkable.  In one generation, all of the interactions have changed.  It was and is a living example of why traditional media has to adapt or die.