Youth and the Modern Communication Technology

by Nabeel A. Khan

Aug 12, 2007

Technology and the younger generation seem to be changing with jet’s motion. Both of them strongly connect to each other with a ‘for you only’ bonding. The technology has made an immense place among the youth. Gen Y takes pride in flaunting their latest mobile or i-pods. Today every single youth has utmost dream to own the latest gizmo. Even parents need not worry about inducing letter writing habits into their kids so they can send the news of their well being and requirement from hostels or while staying out of home. They should rather be skilled in the technique of video conferencing and other modern technology.

With these technologies life has become easier to such extent that for getting results people used to go long way to the institution or follow the huge rush at paper vendors’ shop but today instead the result follows the students in their bedrooms, drawing rooms or anywhere to everywhere with their high tech gizmo. The modern communication enables to bring the classroom into their home. The new age belongs to SMS, MMS and E-mail/internet savvy world who has forgotten all the roads heading towards much traditional system. One of the glaring examples of this phenomenal change is the Indian Postal system that is gradually transforming to take new assignments like the recent announcement of agreement with the Railways under which selective post offices will issue railway tickets.

The schools and colleges no more have the only traditional board and marker but also armed with dazzling projector to make lessons more effective and comprehensible and the student no more stick to notebook and pen but they have electronic note book (laptop) with much better facilities. The new gambits of rising technology have taken over the people of all age group and class, but younger generation is most enthusiastic friend of it.

There were days when the desire of school-going kids used to be a good picnic, a movie, or a packet of chocolate but today their aspirations are for the latest mobile, i-pod and a PC (Personal Computer) at home with internet facility. The technology has really helped the younger generation smoother their talent and sharpen their knowledge. The greatest god of all recent invention is internet and mobile phones. While the vast sea of internet helps in doing their assignments with the help of various educational web sites, they can have magical access to the material on any selective topic just in a click which might have been possible only after serious study of many bulky books. The search engines like google.com serves as their prime tutor. Now the prominence of google.com has made it a verb we come across many people saying ‘if you don’t get enough material why don’t you google it’.

It’s amazingly plausible that the long hour’s involvement with new techno-toys doesn’t stop users from socializing and alienate from the society. They have many social websites like orkut.com, hi5.com which helps them being constantly in touch with their friends. They just register themselves and make their profile through which they recognize one another and keep the communication going. The messenger services provided by various service providers like, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and Rediffbol further give them a better tool of communication and allow them chat with people from around the world.

The inventions of these technologies have been genuinely for bettering the human life. Its prime purpose is to make lives comfortable and convenient and has been successful in its mission to much extent. As every invention has two sides so there is no exception to it. These inventions also have a brighter and a grim face. The mobile and internet or any other communication technology helps in making life convenient and comfortable but it has also caused hue and cry around the world for invading privacy and health hazardous reason, like the rays from mobile phone can cause many health related problems. We have witnessed many incidents of websites being hacked and many other form of misuse of these technologies. Mobile, a boon for society which enables its users to talk to near and dear one from anywhere, invention of camera system in mobile further added a great quality into it which enables its users to share video and makes possible to see one’s kith and kin at any moment while being far way. It has magic to fill gap of many seas. So Mcluhan’s concept of global village is rightly advocated.

As we all know, human being is a statue of err so can we be sure that the younger generation which is much vulnerable, acknowledge the demarcation line on how much and for what purpose a particular technology has to be used. Though several cyber and privacy laws have been instituted to keep the sanctity of the technology alive, they are found to be partially effective. Slew of MMS scandal has stirred the country. Student of a south Delhi school suffered the ugly side of the technology when she was recorded in a camera mobile phone while being in inappropriate act. She was ultimately forced to leave the country. Many young users have been victimized by mischievous users on the internet. Many girls’ photographs posted with their profiles on social websites have been morphed and placed on porn sites. It gives a strong message that the advent of modern technology can be boon till the users are actively warned of the adversity that can be fallen as a peril by the same dear gizmos. There are many inappropriate materials freely and easily accessible which might be arousing curiosity among the enthusiastic children as they are immature and vulnerable. These people can fall prey to the wrong habits. E-mail fraud has become a very common phenomenon. As these are fully virtual medium of connecting people, the imposter can wear any mantle to cheat the users.
 

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