Generational Differences: The Use Of the Internet Essay -- Technology

Generational Differences: The Use Of the Internet Everyone is doing it: surfing the net. Every generation nowadays is using the Internet for some reason or another. Kids, sometimes for play; students for school work; and adults in the workforce are using the net for business related topics or to plan their next vacation; seniors are using it to keep in touch with their grandchildren. If you aren’t using the net, then you are obviously not in tune with the Real World. There have been my in depth studies dealing with generational use of the Internet. Who is wired and who is not. The gender gap. Who, how and why a person is using the Internet. Before I get into my own observations, I would like to introduce some observations that certified people in the field have made: Kids: Children start to use the computer and surf the net just as fast as they can walk or talk. At first, they just want to play games, but then they find the amazing tool of surfing the net to find better games, more interesting games and for study. Children are being encouraged to use the Internet by their teachers. Small research projects are being assigned by their teachers to see if their students know how to use the information on the Internet for school related purposes. Chat rooms have also become popular among children. Disney.com has a chat room for youngsters to partake in and talk about their favorite characters, movies, etc. Of course, children do not have the choice of their income - but this is a major concern among the â€Å"digital divide.† One of the most common â€Å"digital divide† findings is of course the use of computers in schools. A nationwide survey was taken and the results follow: teachers suggest that, as of 1998, m... ...y study has been very bizarre. I think everything went as planned, besides the one circumstance with the senior citizen. WORKS CITED Becker, Henry Jay. â€Å"Who’s Wired and Who’s Not: Children’s Access to and Use of Computer Technology. Future of Children. 2000, 10, 2, fall, winter: 44-75 Ervin, Linda A., Kelly S. Gardner, Philip D. Schmitt. â€Å"Gender and the Internet: Women Communicating and Men Searching.† Sex Roles 44. No. 5/6. (March 2001) pp. 363-379. â€Å"The Internet Study: More Detail.† February 2003. 25 Feb 2003. http://www.standford.edu/group/siqss/Press_Release/press_detail.htm â€Å"Raised On The Net: The Effects of Computerization on the Next Generation.† May 1999 23 February 2003. http://www.units.muohio/psybersite/cyberspace/n-gen/criticism.shtml Saunders, Gertrude. â€Å"Wired Woman.† Woman’s Day. March 4, 2003. p. 65