The Next Generation’s Problem: Zoomer Tech Competency & Generational Reductionism
In our rush to integrate Gen Z into the digital world, we forgot to teach them legacy tech skills. Is this an oversight or a gift in disguise?
We often pity older generations who fall for online scams because they’re obvious to anyone who knows how the internet works. What will our scam be at their age? I’d like to think we could adapt by then, but maybe it’s naive to assume that today’s grandparents are uniquely susceptible. They aren’t.
I bring this up because every generation adapts to technology in its own way. Generation Z (born 1997–2012) has been slower to take up ubiquitous systems, such as Microsoft Office, desktop interfaces, spreadsheets, and Windows file directories. In Gen Z’s lifetime, the tech industry shifted to intuitive productivity apps, touch screens, mobile operating systems, GPS, and automatic file management with cloud storage. With a reduced barrier to entry, the user experience for everyday tech is objectively better.
Gen Z — currently 11 to 26 years old — is entering a professional paradigm demanding dual proficiency in intuitive apps and legacy tech. Will today’s kids struggle to perform at their jobs? Or will their perceived naiveté be a unique advantage?
Contents
- Zoomer Tech Competency & Generational Reductionism: For years, Western society widely believed Gen Z was innately literate in computers and software. Is that true?
- Gen Z’s Vision & Future Tech Development: Gen Z’s mobile-first vision and virtual communication preferences will influence tech development for the next several decades, setting a tone for how “Generation Alpha” (early 2010s to present) will adapt to new systems and technologies.
- Too Many Projections, Not Enough Foresight: History’s problems repeat for a reason.
