When I consider all the tremendous technological achievements we have made and where we are today compared to where we were 50-75 years ago, I wonder whether we are more evolved now, or have we regressed as humans. We may have better gadgets and technological solutions to make our lives longer, safer, easier, and more comfortable – BUT, are we devolving from humans to humanoids? Which upcoming human generations may be OK and which ones are at risk? Only time will tell. ☹

Before I begin, let’s get our terminology straight on the alphabet soup of Gen-X/Y/Z/A/B etc.:

  • Baby Boomers: Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. They’re currently between 61 and 79 years old (approximately 73 million in the U.S.)
  • Gen X: Gen X was born between 1965 and 1979/80 and is currently between 45 and 60 years old (approximately 65 million people in the U.S.)
  • Gen Y: Gen Y, or Millennials, were born between 1981 and 1994/6. They are currently between 29 and 44 years old (around 74 million in the U.S.) 
  • Gen Y.1 = 29-33 years old (around 32 million people in the U.S.) 
  • Gen Y.2 = 33-44 (around 42 million people in the U.S.) 
  • Gen Z: Gen Z is the newest generation, born between 1997 and 2012. They are currently between 13 and 28 years old (nearly 69 million in the U.S.) 
  • Gen A: Generation Alpha starts with children born between 2012 and 2024. They are currently between 0 and 13 years old (about 51 million people in the U.S.) 
  • Gen B: Generation Beta starts with children born in 2025 and will continue through 2039.

Key social media technology evolution milestones, which have impacted our lives:

  • Smart Phones – 1990
  • Text Messaging start 1992
  • Social Media foundations, established and flourished – 1990-2000
  • WhatsApp Availability – 2009
  • AI Chatbots (e.g. ChatGPT) – 2023

I consider myself a Baby Boomer based on the above classifications; in the majority. We were already young adults before the ‘onslaught of social media’ arrived. My adult children are Gen X and Gen Y, young adults and no longer kids. They may be the last generation which straddles the two worlds of social physical-space (real friends, board games, toys and outdoor playtime) and social ether-space (virtual existence). Social media does require interaction and communication with others (from the confines of one’s home); and can never be a replacement for the face-to-face, touch and feel interaction of humans, one-on-one. How does one pick up and respond to non-verbal communication while texting?

Gen Z and A, unfortunately, were born in the new world we live in. They are bombarded by mis/disinformation and drowned by it from a tender age. They are at a serious risk of being consumed by the need to stay online and always connected. Most of them will not experience the joys of growing up (like the earlier generations) into young adults. Their young lives will be steered into adulthood via access to Facebook/Instagram/TikTok. In some cases, parents may not be aware of the social-media worldwide travels of their children, to faraway lands and communicating with unknown entities, who may even be predators.

Unsure what will happen to Gen B, as the looming advances in AI will blur them into a binary/digital existence.

My memories growing up are filled with close human contact, surrounded by friends and family. My pastime (after school and on holidays) was playing games, both indoors and outdoors with family and friends, and reading books. Sometimes, just hanging out with friends and talking. We filled our spare time creatively, doing/making things. I remember playing with a MECANO set, assembling puzzle pieces, toy cars and aeroplanes. I do not want to generalise that Gen Z and A kids are only glued to their smart devices. Some parents have ensured a level of balance – allowing the necessary screen time to ensure that their kids can have their cake and eat it too.

Unfortunately, a lot of us (parents) have chosen the easier path by handing off a smart device to their kids – to avoid having to attend to them personally. Sometimes parents may do this, as they need the quiet time in their over-stressed lives to re-sync and re-coup. In the majority of the cases, my observation has been that it is easier to hand off a smart device to quieten the young ones than actually address their need for attention.

Are we in an irreversible situation?

Should we (Baby Boomer and Gen-X parents/adult generation) just give up?

Is it just easier to let things be and not stir anything up? If we take this path, clearly our civilization will go past its peak and regress/devolve.

As of December 10, 2025, Australia has implemented a world-first ban prohibiting children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms to protect youth mental health. Social Media providers own the task of ensuring relevant access controls. My hope is that the world will follow 😊

All through human evolution, over millions of years, as Homo Sapiens evolved to the early 20th century humans social interaction has been a key factor for them to flourish, evolve and survive. The world was distant and unknown in the past, and yet with our ingenuity, we figured out how to connect across thousands of miles, communicate and evolve as one race.

My hope, as the forever optimist is that the pendulum will swing back and humanity will survive. If we have survived over millions of years and flourished, what can the last 50-75 years do to snuff out the flame of the indomitable spirit of humanity?