Expecting Gen Z to be tech savvy just because they grew up on TikTok is sort of like expecting Boomers to have a deep understanding how radio transmitters work because they grew up watching television.
I used to follow the Neilsen Norman Group reports closely as part of my job years back, and user testing consistently demonstrated that "tech savviness" isn't generational or inherent.
@zalasur I used to teach 10th grade students. The school demanded that I teach them Java programming, but the kids, as smart as they are, they don't even know what a folder is or how to create a new text file, or how to use the file manager.
Around the turn of the century (I still love saying that) I helped out in my kids 3rd grade computer lab. I was bummed and horrified that I didn't have to show up very often (like 3x the whole year!) because it was up to the teacher whether to hold it or not and it was usually "not" because it wasn't on the "standardized tests". So the kids didn't learn basic computer stuff.
BUT the moment they entered Jr. High, they were expected to be fully proficient and be...
@zalasur I teach a lot of kids (in college) and we've reached the point where technology is indistinguishable from magic. They know the right incantations, which work sometimes, but have zero clue how it all fits together and the underlying technology that allows them to wave their magic want and chant the correct incantations. (that said, they WANT to understand it a lot better.)
We have failed them. And the future. I'm not sure we can come back from this point. Who will make things when the makers die out? Who will fix things when the fixers die out?
@juliewebgirl@ai6yr I don't think things are that hopeless. The tools are still out there; no one has taken those away. People just need to pick them up.
@zalasur@juliewebgirl Not hopeless, there are plenty of younger folks who want to understand how it works, but it's (just like now) a small exclusive group.
@zalasur
Sure it's easy to say that but I don't see anybody doing it. And when the parents don't know so they can teach, then by the time (now!) the ones who do know are dead or have just given up on #users (with good cause I might add)... 🤷 #DontHateMeBecauseImCynical @ai6yr
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