There is a new
phenomenon going on that the world has never seen before. I feel it most
intensely when I travel to third-world countries. It’s about world-wide
communication. It’s also about sharing information with your neighbors, as well
as about keeping in touch with family and friends. I’m talking about the
internet, digital technology, cell phones, and i-pads.
Every place I travel,
even in remote spots, there seems to be internet and technology. This means
that everyone world over has access to the same information. Unfortunately it
is also the same popular culture. I like to call it “anywhere Earth” when I see
the same shops or restaurants like 7-eleven or Starbucks or McDonalds. However,
I think the most significant impact will come not from the adults like me who
now have access to information. I think it is going to come in the future, from
the next generations of the world population.
The phenomenon I
notice is that teenagers, everywhere, are growing up with the same cultural
values. In the past, regions of the world varied so much that people are
different even if they come across the same information. Clothing, traditions,
education were different in every region of the world. Now, the generations
coming up all want the same clothing. They listen to the same world music. They
cultivate the same values towards one another. This has got to be significant
as these youth age and begin to take leadership roles in their various
countries. We will see what happens. What do you think? Will it be for the
better?
