“If you tweet my post on Flickr, I’ll give you props on your blipper, and confirm your PR on my Facebook App.”
When I hear a sentence like this, I get chills up my spine. I feel that I’ll never “get there.” I’ll never truly understand this new language that kids use when they talk about the Internet. I’m still from that generation, you know, the one that needs a manual (or help from Generation Y) to understand all of this.
This video depicts, in a funny way, how Veteran generations try to understand the technological language of the present and the future. We try desperately to get into the “new,” to stay one step ahead, so that we don’t lose our jobs. Baby Boomers do not want to get left behind. This even shows up in stats, as we are the group whose participation has increased most in social networks.
Yet, I still see young people, belonging to the Millennial Generation who do not follow technology, and they don’t feel that they are missing out on anything. They say they don’t have time for it. And what’s more, they don’t feel inferior to those who know the new technological language.
It seems to me that everybody can learn to communicate better. My generation needs to understand the concepts, theory, and processes. Generation Y needs to learn that they learn technology differently from us.
Even the way we absorb content is fundamentally different. Generation Y learns through deduction, and Baby Boomers learn through clear explanations and objectives.
If we all understand the differences, the process of communication will become easier. No generation will feel left out. There will be less inter-generational prejudice.
“If you tweet my post on Flickr, I’ll give you props on your blipper, and confirm your PR on my Facebook App.”
It’s not as bad as it looks. Take a deep breath. Let’s break it down:
Tweet –To publish a message on Twitter, which serves as a Micro Blog.
Post – A public message on a blog
Flickr – A website which allows publication of photos
Props –a type of positive recognition, sort of like “gold stars” in Elementary school. Blipper is a type of Twitter, except it’s for music.
PR on Facebook– The act of confirming your attendance for an event posted on Facebook, and then suggesting it to your friends.
App – Application
Facebook –Social Network
