Gen Z and tech literacy going backwards?

[foam rolla]

This was something I think Null touched on an old MATI episode that Gen Z and Gen A seem to be regressing when it comes to types of tech literacy and becoming solely reliant on dumb down tech and a handful of companies. As millennials and Gen X you would learn the basics of torrents, downloading videos, sideloading apps etc to get what you need online and not being reliant on apps and subscription services. But the kids now want everything provided through a service and if it requires a round about way of doing it, they don't care or don't want to do it.

I always assume that generations would get more savvy with tech as the years go on and not rely on Tiktok, Playstation store and Netflix in order to exist online. Does anyone have more evidence on this? or is it just a stereotype?

 

[Merton J. Dingle]

A Gen Z girl at work was talking about the "black box underneath her desk." Upon questioning her, she actually did not know that that was her PC.

 

[foam rolla]

A Gen Z girl at work was talking about the "black box underneath her desk." Upon questioning her, she actually did not know that that was her PC.

Did she ask if the PC was just a giant iPhone?

 

[AbyssGazer]

I know a zoomer who used a PC for the first time at 20 years old. He even admitted himself that is was worrying, and not all that uncommon.

 

[foam rolla]

I know a zoomer who used a PC for the first time at 20 years old. He even admitted himself that is was worrying, and not all that uncommon.

So did he just live in a remote cabin all his life? or just brought up on a phone? I thought most schools had kids learning on laptops as part of their study?

 

[UERISIMILITUDO]

This is by design. Look into Alan Kay's Dynabook concept, and compare that to the locked down Apple iPad. When none of the software is designed to reward learning, and provides no ability to program the system in any way, even by recording and replaying input, this outcome shouldn't be surprising.

 

[Caddo Cobgang]

Unironically yes, Boomers dont know what the fuck they are talking about when they say teenagers and people in their 20s are good with computers, doesn't help that most schools don't teach basic computer skills anymore, im 26 and I might very well be one of the few people my age who can navigate a basic file system on a desktop PC, Gen Z especially later Gen Z were raised on Apps so phones and computers might as well be Magic Boxes to them, they don't think about the actual code that goes into it and its not really their fault, the people who run education in this country shouldn't be in their jobs, these Gen X Karens would rather teach Condensation then actual life skills, fucking disgusting retards.

 

[Gigantic Penguin]

When I was in highschool I lamented openly there is so little focus on computer literacy, let alone learning how to program.

It is sad, but entirely expected, there are no efforts to improve anything in this area (from what I can tell).

 

[Sneedenhagen Chew]

So did he just live in a remote cabin all his life? or just brought up on a phone? I thought most schools had kids learning on laptops as part of their study?

Tablets are a lot more common around here. Mind-boggling regression as a zillennial that enjoyed playing in Brood War LAN parties in the computer lab on lunch once in a while.

 

[Frenzy of Sharks]

It's because Zoomers have it really good now and by having it really good now I mean that nearly everything about tech these days is pushing a button and something works as expected so you don't need to be Neo from the Matrix to make something work on a computer or any other electronic device now most of the time.

There's a meme going on that Zoomers can't torrent and it's because Zoomers don't need to. If Zoomers want to pirate content then they're going to go on emulation website for video games, go on a pirate website for books, or go on a pirate streaming website to watch movies and shows where you don't have to deal with torreting. While I do not condone pirating content (you should pay for content legally like a model citizen), sailing the seven seas is a lot easier to do now compared to how things were 15 years ago.

It's not just computers, pretty much every electronic device these days is more focused on the graphical user interface in order to make something so easy a Boomer can use it. So the reason why so many Zoomers have mediocre or poor tech skills is because is for the same reasons Millennials and Gen X kinda struggled with math because the calculator became so common that there was no need to put in the work to do math if you have a device that can make your life a lot easier.

 

[Cat tit bingo]

People learn to the level that Is useful for them and for a lot of people thats simply internet browsing and steam. It's truly shocking how many people don't understand even just file explorer, unless there modding a game they have no reason to touch it. I know people that when they want to upload pictures or videos they switch to there phone because they understand there photos app where as looking up files on there pc absolutely bewilders and terrifies them.

 

[Key the Metal Shitposter]

I think there is a natural trend that comes with technological developments where when a new piece of technology is widespread people learn a lot about it and how it works etc. and then the technology becomes so ubiquitous to everyday life that nobody really thinks about how it works anymore and it becomes relegated to a job for random autists to do for money. Great example being cars, everyone knows boomers all know how to work on cars but millennials and certainly gen z couldn't change their oil if they had to. It will be the same with computers and also software.

 

[DotDem]

Being the "computer guy" and helping my friends in their 20's to use the file explorer is fun!

 

[UERISIMILITUDO]

It's not just computers, every electronic device these days is more focused on the graphical user interface to make something so easy a Boomer can use it.

Here's another reminder that the graphical user interface predates UNIX and DOS, both of which were very primitive in comparison to the Smalltalk systems available at Xerox PARC.

It's truly shocking how many people don't understand even just file explorer, unless there modding a game they have no reason to touch it.

Files are another aspect of computing systems that are entirely unnecessary. Part of the reason people don't bother learning this shit is because it's for the most part worthless knowledge. Only computer autists enjoy learning this shit.

 

[No. 7 cat]

Did she ask if the PC was just a giant iPhone?

That would've shown some insight. A smartphone is a minaturized computer as well as portable communication device. I've been told by some who have to babysit / manage Gen Z that outside of smartphone use, quite a lot are quite tech illiterate. Set up instructions have to be at a basic level and limited skill with the MS Office stuff that Gen X handled in their sleep.

 

[AbyssGazer]

So did he just live in a remote cabin all his life? or just brought up on a phone? I thought most schools had kids learning on laptops as part of their study?

Phone/tablet kid. He did use a chromebook in class, but I wouldn't really count that as actually using a PC. It would be like comparing a kids tricycle to a real bike.

 

[Sneed S. McSneedensen]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! A fantastic thread! I unironically hope this becomes the general "Gen Z is fucking stupid: Technology Edition" thread!

You already know the answer. I already know the answer. Everyone knows the answer.

Yes. Generation Z is absolutely walking backwards in terms of technological know-how.

Take a look at the average video regarding any technology troubleshooting. Who is it usually uploaded by?

Answer: Generation Y (Millennials), Generation X, and Baby Boomers (god bless the baby boomers that actually gave a fuck about technology like Steve Wozniak).

I have never opened up a troubleshooting video and was greated with a squeaky voiced young adult.

However, I will say that I definitely do not blame them for their incompetence entirely. Have you ever tried googling something in the past decade? Notice how if you are not immediately shown articles that are really just covert advertisements for a website subscription, useless product completely unnecessary for the task at hand, or a pointless course, a lot of the advice you get for tasks you ask about are SHIT. I still remember being recommended to apply toothpaste to a fucking CD to erase off scratches

But it's not just malicious info that Zoomie zooms are being given, it's also the intentional gatekeeping of information from Zoomie zooms. It's a common theme amongst web forums centered around certain hobbies that information is safeguarded from the general public unless you have an account. Then, once an account is made, you need to make a certain number of posts to be able to even see certain sections of a particular website that contains information even remotely relevant to your initial inquiry (this is very common in automobile communities).

So, what do we then have?

We have a generation of young individuals absolutely demoralized against the idea of education. Why even bother? College is expensive, the internet fucking sucks, and everyone wants to make a buck off you.

I would unironically recommend that more Zoomie zooms go to their local library and read. At least there you only have to deal with niggers, but you can at least leave with some actual knowledge in hand.

 

[Fapcop]

Yes, can confirm.

These kids are mostly raised on iPads, MacBooks and consoles.

As soon as there is a slight problem and they can’t just click a button to solve it, they have no idea what to do.

(And go on YouTube to look for an answer, because god forbid you read for a few minutes.)

 

[Riftrunner]

A Gen Z girl at work was talking about the "black box underneath her desk." Upon questioning her, she actually did not know that that was her PC.

I wish we could go back to when the lowest level of tech literacy was calling your PC a hard drive and something only the elderly did.

It makes me fear for the future, the competency crisis can be seen manifesting everywhere.

 

[foam rolla]

As soon as there is a slight problem and they can’t just click a button to solve it, they have no idea what to do.

"MUM I NEED A NEW IPAD! THIS ONE IS BROKE"