Thomas Friedmans Generation Q and Rob Fishmans Generation of Generation Q - Essay Example

These generations both talk about the impacts of technology on the millennial generation and particularly the use of computers by a majority of the global population which has enhanced the world's interconnectedness (Fishman Web). For instance, the two generations focus on the use of social media like Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace. The two generations are both termed as “Quiet,” because the focus of its members is on the computerized technology that they use in their interactions.

Secondly, both generations are stuck in the use of technological advancements to solve societal injustices and problems. They both argue that the technological evidence, for example, the DNA evidence is indisputable because their validity is on the basis that the advancements are a science (Fishman Web).

Similarly, both generations bear huge social, economic, and ecological deficits that their members struggle to come out of. For instance, in both generations, the members continue to cause global warming which has hazardous environmental and economic effects.

In addition, both members of these generations are hard-working. They get engaged in programs and activities that are useful for themselves and their countries (Friedman Web). For example, they participate in building their homes, engage in politics, and also offer volunteer services to the poor.

Finally, terrorism which is a global issue has not stopped the members of both generations from moving around the world (Friedman Web). The members of these generations freely move from one part of the globe to another. However, there are contrasting issues between these two generations.

The Differences

 Friedman’s Generation Q has huge budget deficits, social security deficits, and ecological deficits. Its members spend their entire adult lives struggling to come out of these deficits. From the New York Times newspaper dated Oct. 2, generation Q members have continued to trigger global warming (Friedman Web). However, Friedman’s generation tries to look into the techniques of handling the challenges of global warming and other social, economic, and environmental concerns coming as a result of the technological advancements which Rob Fishman’s generation does not care about.

Moreover, the members of Friedman’s generation Q are less radical compared to Rob Fishman’s generation of generation Q members. They put their energies into popular national service programs in their respective home countries. An example is the “Teach for America.”

Furthermore, Friedman’s Q generation cannot do online petitions. On the other hand, Rob Fishman’s Generation Q emphasizes activism which has transformed into online petitions and internet discussion boards. However, Friedman argues that Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy did not change the world by simply asking people to join their Facebook crusades or by downloading their platforms (Friedman Web).

The technological advancements have instilled a deep sense of inevitability in Rob Fishman’s generation encouraging its members to look inward more than Friedman’s generation Q. Technology has made competition to be an obvious human element for Rob Fishman’s generation.

In Rob Fishman’s generation, information is readily accessible more than in Friedman’s generation Q. This generation is inclined to the technological precepts of justice more than the human concepts of fairness. It does not bother about global climate change and other deficits.

In summary, both generations give insights into the effects of technological advancements on the new generations. From the articles, it is evident that technological advancements have distinctive impacts on the social, economic, and environmental conditions of human beings. For instance, technology has enhanced global interconnectedness hence making the world to be more advanced in terms of interaction and information accessibility (Fishman Web). It is only important to also look into the solutions for some of the negative effects of technology, for example, global warming.