Camryn Sandoval

EID: cas7639
Group 1

Group Workshop 4- (digital age)

Group 1

Why does Mark Bauerlein argue that “However many hours they pass at the screen
(computer screen) from age 11 to 25, however many blog comments they compose,
intricate games they play, videos they create, personal profiles they craft, and
gadgets they master, the transfer doesn’t happen. The Web grows, and young adult
mind stalls.” What does it mean the transfer does not happen? ”

Baurlein reflects greatly upon the inability of young adults to “transfer” from

blogs, videos, and games to reality. I believe he means by this that although we use

both our intelligent and creative minds in order to master the use of social media,

videos and “gadgets” we lack the ability to transfer this to useable life skills. For

example, many teens are social media “guru’s” and have thousands of online

“friends”, yet lack the ability to socialize. We gain this seemingly useful and real-life

skills, but in the reality of the world we live in, they are not so useful. The growth

and time that we put into revolutionizing technology, leaves us with a gap in skills

and knowledge. This gap that we have essentially created, is what Bauerlein

references when he says that the young adult mind stalls. A great example of this is

the use of technology for communication. We increasingly rely on technology as our

sole means of communication, and therefore are beginning to lack the skills needed

to properly communicate, and socialize in real life situations. This also effects the

job market for millennials, without great face to face people skills, many of us lack

the abilities needed to do sought after careers like being a doctor or lawyer.
Camryn Sandoval
EID: cas7639
Group 1

What sort of evidence does he present that the mind of the digital generation know
far less, and they read, write, and reflect too poorly? Briefly explain what is the
paradox of the new generation? Are they good at history, math/science, and fine arts
relative to the past cohorts? What do you think?

We live in a time of instantaneous information, and an ever-moving and

changing world. We only experience life in snaps, and we have all too often lost the

ability to critically think, and reflect. This is revealed often through our generational

differences, and our ADHD mindsets. As a generation, we are more inclined to be

easily distracted and not be able to reflect as critically as previous generations. This

is where the paradox comes in to play. Although we are not as philosophical or

culturally education as previous generations, this does not mean that we necessarily

“know less”. Simultaneously we are both smarter and dumber than our

predecessors. The type and structure of intelligence that is held by the new

generation cannot be held side by side to that of a previous generation. We generally

have far superior abilities in spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and even

multitasking. The new generations are better at these fast moving, high input tasks,

because that is what we were raised in. Nevertheless, we lack abilities to function in

slow moving or quiet environments where we do not thrive. It is no longer in our

nature to succeed in this type of environment, or have an interest in cultural or

historic knowledge. We now look towards the future instead of the past, and

although this may be detrimental to the development of our society culturally, we

cannot stop the ever moving way of the world.