Antisocial Social Media Gen

It's interesting with a generation that has the ability to better communicate and socialise than any before is apparently unsocial according to this recent Age article.

It is fair to say that its common to see mobiles sitting on tables in restaurants and people on dance floor awkwardly swaying while the text, Instagram or check their news feed. It seems as though the more likes on something makes you social, but at the end of the day if there is no legitimate reason to be on your phone (EG friend needs to find you, need to check event details or something HILARIOUS has to be Instagrammed) it is antisocial behaviour.

Back in the day phone calls were where it was at. Now I rarely organise anything with a call rather a series of texts or even Facebook messages. I have no doubt that a simple phone call is 1000 times easier and more efficient, and yet it is still not the done thing.

American networking specialists have released a report studying the technology habits of Generation Y globally.Surveying 3600 Gen Yer's worldwide (including 200 Australians) found some very interesting statistics. The report found Gen y'ers rely in internet devices, such as smartphones, to "drive every facet of their lives".

• 88% of Australian participants had a morning routine that involved using their smartphone before leaving the house.
• 1/3 would continue to check their smartphones at least every hour.
• Some checked their phone and social media devices as on this schedule even if it meant during meal times or when they were with their friends and family.
• Many admitted they would feel anxious if they were separated from their phone, even admitting it felt like a part of them were missing.

 I'll admit I am guilty of some of these behaviours. A strong part of my morning routine is to read the newspaper online while I eat my breakfast. If nothing strikes my interest then I will flick to social media. It may not strike my interest either but it requires less brain power.

The article proves some pretty obvious home truths about Gen Y. The old phrase "you look better on Myspace" may not actually be so ridiculous even though Myspace isn't such a big deal anymore. The almost addiciton suffered that older generations can't understand is also a concern. I'll admit a certain part of me falls into this category. I have a wavering attention span and some experiences of my phone having been stolen or being left behind that mean I like to know where it is at all times.

There are reasons to embrace the smartphone culture: Global communications, staying connected to friends in far off lands (actual friends that you have met...), GPS/maps can be a saviour, internet banking for those of us bad at budgeting and of course social media. This old chestnut is actually something that can keep our generation in work so it pays to remember its becoming increasingly less frivolous as it begins to sign the paychecks.

All round interesting article, well worth the read for some obvious realisations we all probably need to here.