The “Google generation” not so hot at Googling, after all

The “Google generation” not so hot at Googling, after all
By Nate Anderson
Post by AJ Johnson

Generation Z, or the Google generation, may not be the net prodigies they’re often credited as being. In “The ‘Google generation’ not so hot at Googling, after all”, Nate Anderson explores this idea by reviewing a UK report that reveals some misconceptions about the net generation. The report is a result of a study commissioned by the British library, and has conclusions that debunk some common myths about the Google generation. This generation is defined as anyone born after 1993; hence those who have never lived in an Internet-less world.

Truthfully, Generation Google does prefer interactive systems and they are generally competent with technology. However, Anderson says it’s a myth that this new generation can use technology better than previous generations can. Specifically, they have trouble choosing good search terms. Although Anderson adds that difficulty with this type of thinking is probably natural for young people.

Another debunked myth is that this generation doesn’t respect the authority of experts (evidenced in the ubiquitous use of sites like Wikipedia). However, this report also states that the Google generation stills values the opinions of their teachers, family members, and friends over online sources.

Finally, this report debunks the myth that the current generation is impatient as a result of their Internet use. Anderson reports that there is no hard evidence to support this notion.

Despite the myths it disproves, the report does state that younger people do multi-task all the time. It suggests that maybe being exposed to online media from an early age helps develop good parallel processing skills. The overall point being the Internet isn’t as bad for us as we’d like to think it is.

I think Anderson’s article, and the report he references, reveals some very interesting information. It’s likely that the Google generation was probably exposed to the Internet as one of their first forms of media. As a result, they are an excellent group to compare changes in thinking, since their net-formed brains have known nothing else. This report states that this generation is not as good with search engines as we had assumed. Also some of the behavioral drawbacks attributed to the Internet are actually are not caused by it.

On the other hand, the article was fairly narrow in the scope of the myths it debunks. It may be true that the Google generation can’t search well, doesn’t lack respect for authority, and has the same patience of teenagers in earlier generations; however, these are only a few, somewhat paltry effects that are thought to be the result of the Internet. Interestingly, Anderson suggests that the fact that Generation Z multi-tasks all the time is an advantage. In David Carr’s article, he suggests that this same effect is a bad thing; because a multi-tasking mind is the only one we have now.

It is reassuring to know that the Internet doesn’t produce all the negative effects we sometimes think it does. However, whether Google can nurture the cognitive development of today’s youth — and return good results — is still being processed.

Nate Anderson is a Senior Editor for the technology news and information website Ars Technica. He frequently contributes articles on technology law, politics and culture. Anderson has also taught English literature at the University of North Carolina, as well as published two novels.

Reference:
Anderson, N. (2008). The “Google Generation” not so hot at googling, after all. In Ars Technica. Retrieved from http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/01/the-google-generation-not-so-hot-at-googling-after-all.ars