Generation "Like"

[SBD4]

ABCs 4 Corners program had a very interesting episode on the current crop of teenagers, their addiction to social media, how big business is exploiting that and, to be frank, visa versa. While I know all about social media and its "Likes" I really did not grasp the scale of what it means to the teens (and older) of today and by extension big business.

On the one hand I admire the savvy ways of these teens but on the other I can't help but be repulsed by the narcissistic view they have of the world. The whole thing is one big marketing campaign of "ME" in the hope that they will be famous on social media and maybe one day turn that into money.

My kids are 12 and 14 years old. Neither of them have an email account let alone facebook, twitter or instagram etc. Part of me wonders if I am putting them at a disadvantage to these other kids who are sharpening their wits and knowledge on this stuff while my kids seem so naive. I like it when my kids can talk to people with confidence while looking them in the eye instead of having their faces buried in a device.

It really is different world now.

Here it is:

Four Corners : Generation Like : ABC iview (http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/four-corners/NC1404H025S00)

[BMKal]

I don't think you are putting your kids at any disadvantage at all ............. just the opposite. ;)

[incisor]

like anything, there will be pluses and minuses

writing it off completely won't achieve much either way i would think.

[AnD3rew]

Had an interesting conversation with my teenage daughter the other day who was complaining that I wasn't giving her enough praise for her driving, (she is learning) by which she meant not praising her every two minutes for not running into the kerb.

I went on small rant at her about her generation needed continual praise for every little thing and that praise should be reserved for the above average and not for the everyday. (By the way she gets lots of praise, all the time).

She the proceeded to tell me that her generation was more worthy of praise than ours because they work so much harder. Cue new rant from me and near boiler burst, :eek::twisted::censored:

It is a whole new generation, very different from mine in some ways. But when I think about it probably in some key ways less different from mine than I was from my parents.

[PhilipA]

Hmm seems to be a "Respect for Elders" bypass there.

I must admit that I get the jimmy brits when my daughter (37) lectures me on acceptable social attitudes . I am still a little too young to reverse the father /child relationship.
Regards Philip A

[Slunnie]

I think that teenagers use of social media is not much different to spending time on internet Landrover forums and probably a bit better than burying their faces in the news papers or spending all day in front of the TV from a social perspective.But I do understand on here we all think how terrible the youth are today along with everything they do and how wonderful old people are who must be respected. Social media is the reality of today and its not going to go away. I think that learning to use it well is a modern requirement for young people as social aspects, news , events, invitations etc are all channeled through it and they are all specific to that person. Even the use of media such as email is much much less common amongst youth, they just don't need it or use it.
How different is their generation to ours.... look to see how many kids wear a watch these days then ask yourself why.