Generation Y- Stupid is... technology does.

"Stupid is as stupid does." Our nation's education level is definitely dropping and one variable that contributes to that is the use of our social networking applications. Generation Y is a group of people considered under the age of 30. In Erin Thompson's article, she gives us a reason to worry. The "stupid" I refer to are the people who cannot carry on a functional conversation, let alone write a paper that is comprehendible. When considering unregulated and unmonitored learning, we have the text messaging and the social networking sites. Young adults and teens have found they can speak to each other in their own language and sms messages. I've been on board with these technologies, but one reason why you'll hear me repeat your idea is if you were to send me a text message without taking the time to form a complete sentence or thought. You'll especially hear from me if you write to me in an unintelligible manor on my Facebook site.

These locations also seem to lend themselves to narcissism. If you're a developing student and you have a website and a cell phone that makes you the center of attention all the time, how healthy is that for your developmental years as a young adult? When did you get your first cell phone? For me, a Generation X person, I did not purchase my first cell phone until I was 25-years-old. A colleague of mine just got his first cell phone last week. He is in his 50's, I should mention. Our kids these days are given full use and function of cell phones and computers before they are even 10-years-old today. Their parents, who are Generation X'ers, typically are the ones texting them while they're in class as was the case with our own school staff and her child!

With all the influences in the world today, it's ever more important to have parents command their households and monitor their children. Teenagers think they are adult enough to make choices for themselves, but we begin to fail them when they've actually convinced us they are mature enough to do so. Obviously, some people mature at different rates. I do know 12-year-olds that can think outside of themselves and conduct an adult conversation and/or write thoughts well. On the same hand, I know 26-year-old babies who couldn't conduct themselves in an adult manner in regards to conversations or actions.

We are all individual learners, but I hope that stupid is as stupid does is not the ongoing phrase I think of when I think of Generation Y.

Thompson, Erin (June 3, 2009) 'Dumbest Generation'? Professor blames technology. USA Today. Retrieved September 5, 2009 from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-06-03-dumbest-generation_N.htm