Technology widening the generational gap?

Although it is becoming easier to keep in contact with family and friends through modern technology, it is also widening the generational gap between today's youth and the elderly. According to a recent article on nielsonwire.com, the typical "facebooker" averages 7 hours per month on the social networking site. It seems like sites like facebook and twitter are consuming our time, or rather our lives and it's no doubt that it is pushing us further away from our elders. That doesn't go to say that every grandma or grandpa out there are like cavemen when it comes to technology but I'm going to go out on the limb here, and say that most are.

I catch myself talking to my grandparents (who are Portuguese immigrants) about whats going on with my social life via facebook. "Oh Jen and Joe are doing fine. They are still facebook official." And then I will catch myself, first of all did I really just say that/who cares and secondly they have no idea what facebook is or how it works.

Sadly these are the thoughts that are consuming today's youths minds (not excluding myself). We should be using these social networking sites to our advantage, not as an open arena to gossip.

In conclusion, I think we should make more of an effort to close that gap. I think it is important for everybody to learn more about technology because it is our future. With that said, I leave you with a personal favorite clip of mine for your enjoyment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGnyaKiDQdo&feature=related