24.09.2021

 Generation gap and COVID

I read an interesting article called “Generation COVID” in the New Scientist.

It explained about a likelihood of increased generation gap between young and old.

As we all know, Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our lives and it is quite different when this event happens in their ages, because people settle into value systems and behaviours during late childhood and early adulthood.

Overall, problems which young people are having now are serious and vary. For example, the younger lost their jobs compared to the elder, the age of buying house is getting late, and mental impacts hit strongly young people then older people.

In addition, if children missed half a year of schooling, that is about 5% of the entire time in school, and some study reported that time of schooling directly correlates the future’s incomes. 

It is obvious that the pandemic has changed our life dramatically, even my life. I have increased spending time online because banks and shops did not open, and it was the only way I have.  I can imagine if this pandemic has happened in my teenage, my life would have been different. But I cannot imagine how different comparing with now. I think these 30 years, we already have been living in the dramatic changes in the world. The internet, computer, and smartphone have become common, and we have to use technologies in all ages, then this pandemic execrates the speed of the change.

In the article, some survey showed that 20 years ago, people answered that the living of their children would be better than that time; however, now, people said that they are not sure whether our children’s lives will be better or not. I see so many bad news such as declining in economies, increasing unemployment rates and deteriorating the world climate. Nonetheless, I feel very sad as we cannot imagine better future now.

It is very important to understand such young people’s situations and feeling since it will be intergenerational connections which leads better future. 

  

English is my second language, so you may find incorrect sentences.

It would be great help if you leave a comment for me. 

Thank you for reading!