As the gap in beliefs, opinions, and values between different generations grows wider, connections between each age group begin to split. Whether it’s your grandmother not understanding the point of TikTok, or Generation X-ers clashing with Millennials because of similarities, intergenerational exchange feels more and more difficult by the year.
In recent years, trends across social media seem to have been dying off faster and faster. It feels like every week there’s a new joke or phrase circling the internet for everyone to see. That is, for everyone who cares to see. Imagine you are a 70 to 80 year old, only owning a cell phone for the sole purpose of texting or calling loved ones, and your grandchildren come to visit, all-the-while screaming things like ‘6-7’ and talking about having ‘rizz.’ How would you feel? Well, there is a high possibility that that is someone’s exact life right now.
Because of the frequent movement in style, trends, and popular things on every social media platform, older generations with less experience in internet trends tend to have a hard time keeping up. This can make spending time with family less enjoyable if the younger kids keep making references only they seem to understand.
The problem isn’t just trends, however. For some reason, lately, some of the more middle-aged generations have begun feeling territorial about their childhood culture.
Between the Millennials constantly reminding us that they are the ‘90s kids,’ and the Generation X parents being more sheltering of their children because of how they were raised, the feud between age groups is neverending.
On top of all of this, the main factor in the growing divide between generations is political. As influence from ‘the left’ and ‘right’ becomes ever so increasing in the media, some major topics like abortion, climate change, artificial intelligence, and religious beliefs continue to become “easier” to discuss with relatives.
Also, there is strong evidence supporting what sides of politics each generation tends to support. One of the biggest divides with this currently is the gap between the more Democratic Generation Z, and the slightly more Republican-leaning Generation X. Between debates online sparking controversy, quarrels at family dinners, and more, the arguing never ends.
To fend off the ceaseless bickering between age groups, people of all ages need to find a deeper understanding of what it means to have empathy. Feeling for those around, the struggles they might be going through, the life experiences they have or have been leading, might just be the key to finally bridging the gap between generations for the better.
