The Inverted Mountain of Tech

This post was initially written several months ago… - eX

I’m certain that much has been written on the concept of younger generations learning higher technologies faster and earlier than older generations can keep up. This must be classic generational dynamics. i dunno, i didn’t bother to search.

However…I was considering the topic after watching my 4 year old nephew navigate Google the other day, doing things with children’s software which made no sense to me. As any parent knows, I was glimpsing a more pristine mind like I’d left far in my own past. Then NPR had a great piece which featured John Battelle discussing the government order for Google to release very private data.

The two ideas synthesized a disturbing perspective. The pace of technology has long reached the point where older generations can’t manage to stay anywhere near cutting edge ideas en mass, but the younger generations are not wise enough to comprehend the softly wrapped dangers of the Internet. This drives fear in the populace which (tightly wrung wires named politicians) see as a lever for which the public will vote.

The fundamental point? That older generations, without the skills to properly perceive online activity, disallowing the correct response to the minor, will simply be in a powerless position to protect their heritage.

So when you add the attempts of the government to gain access to virtually every shred of statistical online activity of ANYONE who has ever used the Google servers, this does cause me to pause. I understand Google’s motive to profit, but I fail to see the true agenda and reason for needing terrabytes of data, when the potential for abuse is so obvious.

It’s somewhat heroic of Google to stand up to the US government, especially one that imposes dramatic curbs on privacy in the service of a mythical agenda. The governments private agenda is another matter.

Bringing this back to what it means for parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, extended family members, social community and more, it’s very disturbing. generational gaps can be measured in processor speeds and core counts, and the gap in understanding of technology between generations is providing substantial risk to parent and child alike. But the risk is not ACCESS to information. The risk is subtle, because the fact is that the older generations will not even be aware that the risk exists. New technologies make this a fact which is irresistible. this fact drives the american economy.

This fact drives tech companies to innovate and it also propels fanatics. Many times the only difference is a lack of political je ne sais quoi.

The inverted mountain of tech is balanced on a point of history. A realization that the same innovation driving our economy and our fears is the same thing that is cracking our historical social structures, can only lead to something better.

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