Whatsapp — Turning Indian Parents Into Teenagers

“Can you please get a 32GB memory card? I can’t download any more photos or videos on my phone.”

When I heard this sentence, it didn’t quite hit me right away. Until it did.

Wait, mom said what?

For years, as I went from —

— I have never heard her say a word about technology.

“When did you click so many — “, I almost asked her. But one look at her relaxing on the couch, looking at her phone with focused eyes, notification sounds creating a symphony, I got it.

Whatsapp.

My parents, along with a majority of their peers in India, have been changed by Whatsapp. Never before have I seen anything that changed the way people of their generation thought about technology — not email, not mobile phones, not computers (as far as I remember).

Over the next couple of weeks, I consciously observed some of the things my parents were saying about Whatsapp or technology in general, and I heard things like

“(Over the phone) Oh, you don’t need to save the photo. Just forward it to the group directly!”
“I’m not downloading this video. I know it’s some stupid joke that I must have seen already. Besides, I want to save space for your uncle’s trip photos.”
“Where can I get a better data pack? I need to be able to use Whatsapp from the park!”
“Where are you standing? Please send your location on Whatsapp.”
“How can I trim this video clip?”

If you have heard any of this from your parents or elders in the family, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Whatsapp has caused an awareness revolution of sorts! People of the generation above are learning about technology. Actively! By trying things on their phones, and by persistently querying everyone around them. The same people who were averse to using email are now forwarding images and video, and broadcasting messages to groups.

I remember how things were back in 2004, when Gmail launched. Once I got my invite (it was special back then) to an email service with a big inbox, it was all about forwarding emails. Texts, animations, GIFs, you name it. This is the that moment for the upper generation!

Never before were they so compelled to check their phones (or any gadgets, for that matter), and share information. And most importantly, enjoy doing all that! Too much, actually.

I have seen so many parents, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents glued to their phones. In public gatherings, at weddings; at home when guests are visiting. At 3:00 AM. At tourist spots. While in cars; at airports. Everywhere!

Never did I think that I would be at the dinner table with my family, and see that my brother and I are the ones telling our parents to put their phones down and finish dinner! Nor did I ever imagine telling mom to put her phone away and go to bed.

Thank you Whatsapp, for educating a whole generation of Indian parents. Now please make them adults again!

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