Google Generation

Aodhan Smith
10/31/08
Enc 1101-42
Google Generation
The Google generation, as defined by an English study, is the generation that has no memory of life before the Internet (Information Behavior). While there is no clear cut line yet, the study that was conducted studied children born after 1993 who are in their school years now (Information Behavior). The characteristics of this generation are that they lack attention span and the ability to effectively use academic databases over search engines. Also, it is believed that generation Google is better with technology and uses it more than any age group or generation before them. The study showed that this is not always the case for this generation and that most of these characteristics are either false or apply to more than just the Google generation.
The first thing that the study disproved was that generation Google is better with technology (Ars Technica). The study showed that while generation Google was more technology based, they did not use technology better, they just used simpler programs (Ars Technica). Rather than use a database to get information with credentials to back it up, generation Google uses simpler search engines, like Google. This has also lead to an increase of plagiarism because rather than summarize the article and look for who wrote it, the article is just copied and pasted and not cited (Ars Technica).
Another behavioral trait that is said to be common of the Google generation is that they are more impatient than all previous generations (Ars Technica). The study also disproved this belief as well. While the Google generation does have a shorter temperament, this characteristic is also common in older people who use technology (Ars Technica). This is a result of a change in society. Since we are used to receiving the answers to our questions immediately from search engines, when it is not found in the first couple of pages of search results the searcher starts to get annoyed that it is taking so long. So the characteristic of having a short patience when it comes to getting search result is a characteristic of our culture as a whole rather than just one generation.
The Google generation also is said to lack in analytical skills and the ability to use effective keyword searches to find information on the internet. This is evident in how the students who were studied searched the internet. Many of them, rather than type in a key word or phrase, just used sentences as their search parameters (Information Behavior). The group also read the whole article and pictures rather than skim it for important points and relevance. Since they lack in analytical skills, the use of a search engine is much easier than using a database. This also leads to the lack of citing because many sources pulled up on Google are not primary sources, they are just articles that are talking about sources with no physical way to confirm the evidence provided. Databases at least provide where the information can be found.
The majority of the characteristics of the Google generation are false. While this generation is lazier, it is more of a culture wide change as opposed to being just those who grew up with no memory of life before the Internet. Generation Google does lack in analytical skills which is leading to the predominant use of search engines, like Google, and also to a lack of citations. Also, this generation is no less impatient than any other generation who is using the Internet right now. The study showed that older people who use the Internet as much as this generation does right now can be just as impatient when they do not find what they want right away. This also is more of a culture-wide change as opposed to a trait specific to one generation. Generation Google is not necessarily lazier than any other generation, they have just adapted to the technology presented to them and taken the easiest route possible. Rather than go the library to find a book, they just use Google to find it, and then cut and paste what they want rather than summarize it.