New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd recently opined on the state of America and the disparity between generations. You have older people who grieve the alleged demise of the US as a global superpower, while youth seem unfazed. Young people see themselves as global citizens. Patriotism doesn’t set them alight so easily.
As an explanation to why this is happening, Maureen quotes BuzzFeed editor Ben Smith: “They’re more interested in this moment of crazy opportunity, with the massive economic and cultural transformation driven by Silicon Valley. And kids feel capable of seizing it. Technology isn’t a section in the newspaper any more. It’s the culture.”
He’s right. The technological transformation has been swift, even more so over the past five years. Youth feel empowered. Powerful. They have a voice; tools; distribution. They’re globally connected and media savvy. Unbridled. Nothing is impossible. Culture is by technology.
Douglas Adams: “Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.”
