Landon Hofmeister
Dr. Plesch
PSY-315-2
2/2/2025
Generations Paper
In Chapter 1 of Generations by Jean M. Twenge, the author emphasizes that the rapid rise of
digital technology has modified our day-to-day routines and impacted our understanding of
growing up and connecting with others. On page 2, she writes “New technologies have reshaped
social interaction and leisure time, value systems have shifted from rigid rules and strict social to
individual expression and an embrace of diversity, and the milestones of adolescence and
adulthood are now reached much later than they were seventy years ago.” This quote aligns with
what I discovered while interviewing my father, who experienced the rise of technology and the
internet growing up.
My father spoke of his first introduction to computers at school, where they were given three
computers, with two older students granted the privilege of running the computer lab. My father
told me how everyone looked to use the machines, creating excitement and social hierarchies as
certain students were allowed to use the computers more than others. Since there were only three
computers, my dad discussed the introduction of novel skills. Those who were able to master
typing quickly, navigating the computer and technical skills were elevated above others. I found
this interesting as it foreshadows how digital fluency is now one of the most important skills in
modern work. This shift shows how technology not only introduced new tools but altered
cultural values around success.
My dad also described how he and his classmates would gather at one family’s house, as they
were the only ones with a home computer, where he talked of playing video games like
Ghostbusters. He also discussed the evolution of technology, as it broadened to chat rooms,
online forums, and eventually to owning his first bag phone where face-to-face interactions now
became digitalized. Twenge’s broader arguments explore why this matters “When you were born
has a larger effect on your personality and attitudes than the family who raised you does” (p.2).
For my father’s generation, technology was introduced gradually, allowing face-to-face
communication to coexist with digital tools. In contrast, for my generation, technology is woven
into almost every part of life, influencing how we form relationships and understand social
norms from the start.
Beyond social impacts, my dad recounted how technology blurred the boundaries of work and
personal life. Early cell phones, chat rooms, and email shaped his work-life balance. His peers
could now suddenly contact him at any hour, and “leaving the office” no longer meant being off
the clock. Twenge points out how individualism and convenience go hand in hand with
technological advancement, often at the expense of traditional lifestyles. One of the most striking
psychological consequences my father mentioned was the loss of patience and the expectation of
immediate responses. He explained how, before digital communication, people were used to
waiting—whether for a letter in the mail or a scheduled phone call. With the rise of email,
texting, and smartphones, he felt there was an unspoken pressure to be “always available,” which
contributed to feelings of anxiety and mental fatigue. This aligns with Twenge’s point that
“technology makes individualism possible” (p. 12), but at the same time, this hyper-connectivity
can foster stress, as people struggle to find balance between digital engagement and personal
well-being.
After interviewing my father and reflecting on Twenge’s text, I developed a more meaningful
perspective. His memories of waiting for a turn on the school computer, trying to type faster than
his peers, and juggling work calls at all hours show technology's powerful impact on our values
as a society. Before this conversation, I assumed older generations pragmatically adapted to
innovative technologies. However, I feel as if I have a better understanding that it was a genuine
cultural transformation, changing how they socialized, worked, and measured success. Reflecting
on Twenge’s arguments with my father’s stories deepened my understanding of how technologies
reshape how we live, think, and connect.