EDITORIAL: A WOKE GENERATION AND THE REIGN OF TECHNOLOGY

By Anjolaoluwa Odebiyi       

Much can be attained within the four walls of a classroom. This is naturally and educationally expected; however, in the 21^st century, much more can be gotten within the screen of a technological device.

There was a time when the reigning professions were primarily white collar and corporate jobs. Many parents praised courses like law, engineering, medicine, and the like while vehemently disregarding anything else that didn’t fall into this category. However, this mentality no longer holds weight among a generation categorized as woke.

A generation has risen that is able to see beyond the confining beliefs of men of old and create meaningful opportunities and jobs from career paths that were previously disregarded. By harnessing passion, education, and a woke mentality, the world at large is experiencing an outbreak of career paths modeled to meet needs and personality types like never before.

The “woke” generation, made up of millennials and Gen Z, has been characterized by its heightened awareness of social issues, from racial and gender equality to environmental sustainability. This generation has shown a remarkable dedication to effecting both positive, negative, and downright abnormal changes by leveraging social media and other online platforms to raise awareness and mobilize support for various causes.

The influence of this generation has been instrumental in driving conversations about systemic injustices like gender inequality, mental health, and abuse while also holding various governing institutions accountable. We witnessed this live and directly during the EndSars protest and the 2023 elections, amongst many other things.

The woke movement, however, is not without its flaws. It is true that it frequently veers into cancel culture, restricting open dialogue and encouraging self-censorship out of fear of retaliation. Striking the right balance between raising awareness and promoting constructive dialogue remains a challenge.

In this day and age, we witness the rise of mindsets and opinions that demand to be valued, even though they go against many of the foundational truths embedded in religion and culture. This generation is one that constantly champions incomprehensive ideologies in the name of being awake, and these ideologies go on to become trends that infiltrate every aspect of life.

THE REIGN OF TECHNOLOGY: BLESSING AND CURSE

The technological revolution, on the other hand, has irrevocably altered the fabric of our society. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and automation, technology has made our lives more efficient and interconnected than ever before. It has empowered people to express themselves, connect with others globally, and access vast stores of information instantly.

The doors and opportunities that technology offers people are ones that transcend generations. This is because as technology grows and evolves, its importance becomes more prominent, and in turn, people who are vast in navigating the technological world will be and will continue to be of great importance.

Yet, it comes with its own set of challenges. The digital age has ushered in concerns about privacy, addiction, and the erosion of face-to-face communication. The rapid pace of innovation also brings with it ethical dilemmas, such as the responsible development of AI and the impact of automation on employment.

In the 21st century, the collision of two powerful forces has reshaped our society: the rise of a socially conscious “woke” generation and the unrelenting reign of technology. These two phenomena have not only transformed the way we live, work, and communicate but have also created a complex and contentious interplay. While the woke generation champions social justice and equality, technology has brought about unprecedented connectivity and convenience. This writer is then fascinated by the intersection between these two concepts and what their effect may be.

FINDING COMMON GROUND

The meeting of a conscious generation and technology has created a dynamic conflict. On the one hand, technology has enabled social action to thrive by allowing movements to reach wider audiences and unite like-minded individuals around the world. The same technology, on the other hand, may be a double-edged sword, permitting vices that are dangerous both in the long and short run.

This contention causes one to worry about the future of the world with a generation that claims to be enlightened and has the power of technology at its fingertips. The heart of man can be good, bad, or extremely wicked, and over various centuries, we’ve seen people harness the things around them to champion their own desires.

The reign of technology provides a platform so great that, if utilized by the wrong person, it can cause havoc that would affect people across the globe. The truth is that the interplay of a woke generation and technology holds immense potential for a bright or dark future. One can only keep their fingers crossed and choose to harness these two powerful forces for the good of all.

By Anjolaoluwa Odebiyi       

Much can be attained within the four walls of a classroom. This is naturally and educationally expected; however, in the 21^st century, much more can be gotten within the screen of a technological device.

There was a time when the reigning professions were primarily white collar and corporate jobs. Many parents praised courses like law, engineering, medicine, and the like while vehemently disregarding anything else that didn’t fall into this category. However, this mentality no longer holds weight among a generation categorized as woke.

A generation has risen that is able to see beyond the confining beliefs of men of old and create meaningful opportunities and jobs from career paths that were previously disregarded. By harnessing passion, education, and a woke mentality, the world at large is experiencing an outbreak of career paths modeled to meet needs and personality types like never before.

The “woke” generation, made up of millennials and Gen Z, has been characterized by its heightened awareness of social issues, from racial and gender equality to environmental sustainability. This generation has shown a remarkable dedication to effecting both positive, negative, and downright abnormal changes by leveraging social media and other online platforms to raise awareness and mobilize support for various causes.

The influence of this generation has been instrumental in driving conversations about systemic injustices like gender inequality, mental health, and abuse while also holding various governing institutions accountable. We witnessed this live and directly during the EndSars protest and the 2023 elections, amongst many other things.

The woke movement, however, is not without its flaws. It is true that it frequently veers into cancel culture, restricting open dialogue and encouraging self-censorship out of fear of retaliation. Striking the right balance between raising awareness and promoting constructive dialogue remains a challenge.

In this day and age, we witness the rise of mindsets and opinions that demand to be valued, even though they go against many of the foundational truths embedded in religion and culture. This generation is one that constantly champions incomprehensive ideologies in the name of being awake, and these ideologies go on to become trends that infiltrate every aspect of life.

THE REIGN OF TECHNOLOGY: BLESSING AND CURSE

The technological revolution, on the other hand, has irrevocably altered the fabric of our society. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and automation, technology has made our lives more efficient and interconnected than ever before. It has empowered people to express themselves, connect with others globally, and access vast stores of information instantly.

The doors and opportunities that technology offers people are ones that transcend generations. This is because as technology grows and evolves, its importance becomes more prominent, and in turn, people who are vast in navigating the technological world will be and will continue to be of great importance.

Yet, it comes with its own set of challenges. The digital age has ushered in concerns about privacy, addiction, and the erosion of face-to-face communication. The rapid pace of innovation also brings with it ethical dilemmas, such as the responsible development of AI and the impact of automation on employment.

In the 21st century, the collision of two powerful forces has reshaped our society: the rise of a socially conscious “woke” generation and the unrelenting reign of technology. These two phenomena have not only transformed the way we live, work, and communicate but have also created a complex and contentious interplay. While the woke generation champions social justice and equality, technology has brought about unprecedented connectivity and convenience. This writer is then fascinated by the intersection between these two concepts and what their effect may be.

FINDING COMMON GROUND

The meeting of a conscious generation and technology has created a dynamic conflict. On the one hand, technology has enabled social action to thrive by allowing movements to reach wider audiences and unite like-minded individuals around the world. The same technology, on the other hand, may be a double-edged sword, permitting vices that are dangerous both in the long and short run.

This contention causes one to worry about the future of the world with a generation that claims to be enlightened and has the power of technology at its fingertips. The heart of man can be good, bad, or extremely wicked, and over various centuries, we’ve seen people harness the things around them to champion their own desires.

The reign of technology provides a platform so great that, if utilized by the wrong person, it can cause havoc that would affect people across the globe. The truth is that the interplay of a woke generation and technology holds immense potential for a bright or dark future. One can only keep their fingers crossed and choose to harness these two powerful forces for the good of all.