How Will The Next Generation Be Known?

Photo Credit: San Jose Library

My parents' generation is known as the Baby Boomers. I'm a member of Generation X. Those that came after me are called the Millennials. But how will my children's generation be referred?

From USA Today:

"But exactly what do you call a generation of techno-junkies? How about Generation Wii — after the wildly popular home video game console? Or, perhaps, the iGeneration — with a wink and nod to Apple's iPod and iPhone? Both are in the running. So are a bunch of other tech-drenched monikers, including Gen Tech, Digital Natives and, of course, Net Gen.

"Everyone wants to be the first to come up with the name," says Cheryl Russell, dubbed the goddess of demography at New Strategist Publications, who is one of several with claims to have coined the term iGeneration, which she says she created three years ago. "It's cool — and you gain credibility."

The more important question: What does one generation have to gain — or lose — from the name with which it's tagged? Certainly, no one wants to be linked to a generation of deadbeats or lowlifes. Little wonder those names have never risen to the top of any generational list. None officially dubbed Pathetic Generation — at least, not yet. But some might call Gen Z — a term still in-the-running for the next generation — rather off-putting. If Boomers felt a sense of common strength, Millennials may have felt a sense of shared destination. Ultimately, a generational name reflects its hope or pessimism. 

"Generational labels don't always reflect reality," says psychology professor and generational writer Jean Twenge. "Often, they reflect the hopes of what people want a generation to be."

The world that my children is growing up in is much different than the reality in which I was raised. Technology plays a much more important role as access to information and the ability to communicate much more readily has dramatically affected our lifestyles and choices. In addition, the increasing ethnic diversity and religious pluralism greatly influences how we view our world and those different from ourselves.

My hope for my children (and those of their generation) is that they are able to leverage technology to make a difference in the world and not merely for vain pursuits. My desire is that the diversity that surrounds them would enable them to relate to others in a more compassionate manner than those of us of earlier eras often have.

My dream is that they would become known as a generation of people that selflessly give of themselves so that others would be able to find a life that can't be attained merely through advanced technology or fancy gadgets. It is a life that is discovered through an encounter with our Creator. And all of the things that this next generation will be known for -- a strong sense of community,  a desire for service to others, technological adeptness -- can be used for God's glory. That brings me great hope -- no matter what they may end up being called.

How Technology is Changing the World

We all know how much technology influences us, but few understand how dramatically technological innovations are affecting our world. The Barna Research Group recently conducted a study that gives some insight into how newer technology is perceived by age groups and how that technology is being utilized. One interesting perspective that the study found was this:

"All Americans are increasingly dependent on new digital technologies to acquire entertainment, products, content, information and stimulation. However, older adults tend to use technology for information and convenience. Younger adults rely on technology to facilitate their search for meaning and connection. These technologies have begun to rewire the ways in which people - especially the young - meet, express themselves, use content and stay connected."

Although most Americans have adapted to the use of newer technology like the Internet, cell phones and iPods, not everyone uses them in the same way. These differences are likely no more apparent than among those our ministry reaches out to -- college students. College students seek and share information, connect with current friends, make new acquaintances, find entertainment outlets and even search for answers to life's deepest questions through modern technology.

The world is rapidly changing and it is hard to keep up with all the new gadgets and updates that seem to come out on a monthly basis. For those of us in Christian ministry, it is imperative that we learn about current technology and the role that it plays in the lives of people of all generations. A resistance to adapt to modern technology will only lead to one thing -- irrelevance. The gospel message of Jesus never changes but how that message gets communicated to each generation needs to be adapted.

Here is a video that I saw today that points out some of the realities of today's world. (If the player doesn't show up, click here.)