While much has been made of the digital native vs. immigrant distinction, there has often been little data on just how involved individuals of different ages are with specific technologies. Reuters now reports the results of a recent survey arguing that there is little age difference in cell phone use. I do understand that level of use is only one factor in what some regard as an important group difference. Supposedly having grown up with a technology results in a different perspective in contrast to having come to that technology after experiences with another way of doing things.
Perhaps I respond in defense of those of my age, but why would having one perspective be superior to having multiple perspectives? The fact that I have used a dial telephone, used a phone on a party line, and used a cell phone means I have multiple rather than a single perspective on issues (analog accent or not). Why do some continue to argue that this is a limitation?
For example, the common problem in which some say inappropriate things in social networking environments forgetting others may eventually become aware is hardly a revelation to me. Anyone who has used a party line phone system soon learned that one should never assume a discussion is private. Talk about social networking revisited.
