BY SARA HANAFI
Technology: its use has become second nature – practically embedded in our brains – and without it, we would be lost.
Fiddling with smartphones, updating multiple social media sites at once and exploring the vast wonders of YouTube are daily activities we don’t think twice about doing.
As a member of Generation Y, otherwise known as the technology generation, I (shamefully) admit I’ve pulled out my cellphone during awkward conversations between friends and mindlessly scrolled through Facebook or Tumblr. I didn’t even realize what I was doing until a friend pointed out that I had no idea what was just said.
We have mastered the art of avoiding humiliating auto- corrected words and never fall victim to the flashing pop-up ads that claim we are visitor number one million. But, there are still some people who aren’t as technologically advanced.
Our parents.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of parents out there who are proficient with modern technology.
There are probably quite a few whom I daresay are better with these gadgets than their BBM-obsessed teenage daughters.
However, I recently sat down with my mother after she upgraded her brick-like flip phone for a slick new BlackBerry to try and teach her how to use it.
After approximately 35 minutes, and having not gotten any further than how to add a contact, she threw her arms in the air and declared the phone an arch nemesis.
If your parent calls you to ask if you got her email, or you have to explain that a screenshot does not involve a camera, then you might just understand what I’m talking about.
There’s nothing wrong with being technologically impaired. Sometimes our devices get the best of us, and sometimes technology advances so fast we simply can’t keep up.
I can recall several occasions where I’ve been at the breaking point and someone has had to sit me down and explain the inner workings of T-9 texting (and thank goodness that is out of date, because I still wouldn’t be able to send a simple greeting).
The problem is that we are living in a world where being computer knowledgeable and staying up-to-date is absolutely essential, and if you are one of the millions of people who wouldn’t describe themselves as such, take the time to learn. There is no shame in admitting to being technologically challenged, and now is the time to speak up. It will only get more confusing, and the only way to get help is to talk about it.
So listen up all you tech savvy youth: don’t get frustrated if your parents don’t know the difference between an iPod and an iPhone. Offer some insight and advice. After all, they spent a lot of time and patience teaching you new things at some point in your life.
And who knows? Maybe one day your children will need to explain their newest gadgets to you.
