Checking foreign newspapers for some perspective, I cam across an article written for the Athens News. The article was titled: The Internet Revolution of the Noughties. It took a moment to realize that was not a misspelling.
The article interested me as it talked about Greece being somewhat behind much of the world in the way it used (or didn't) the Internet. The author points out, “The internet hasn’t really impacted the lives of the 50-plus age group, while the 35-50 age group, the most dynamic segment of society, at the peak of their lives and creativity, are lagging behind European averages when it comes to the internet.” This intrigued me as I thought of the Seniors Computer Group with which I had been involved with starting almost 15 years ago here in the U.S.A.
"The impact of internet social networking on social relations has been considerable, according to Yannis Larios of the Observatory for the Greek Information Society. For one, it has helped break down the traditional suspicion that Greeks have for strangers. “What the social media applications and platforms have succeeded in doing is to soften this cautious stance somewhat,” he says, adding that Greeks seem to find it easier to talk to strangers when they are online and share details from their personal life more readily than with their office colleagues, for example.
This is particularly the case among one demographic group in Greek society, which over the past decade has caught up with its European Union counterpart regarding internet use, according to Larios. “The younger generations in Greece, those in the 16- to 35-year-old age bracket, are now equal to their counterparts in the rest of Europe in that there is no longer a digital gap between them,” he explains. “The younger generations in Greece just don’t use the internet - they live through the internet. We’re talking about a 90 percent usage rate.”
The author is Damian Mac Con Uladh and the complete article can be read by clicking here.
So many questions are raised about the difference in life styles in other countries, as well. People handle aging quite differently. While I have not been in Greece for 30 years, I do not believe that the world for the over 50 Greek has changed that much. Older people are treated with far more respect and dignity than in the US. They accept deserving attendance for their years more akin to Asians than Americans. They are comfortable as many seniors in Florida are with socializing, eating and drinking as their major activities.
Society determines behavior. However, there is a down side to letting the outside direct your actions and behaviors in a one-size-fits-all fashion. Without doubt, the urban areas like Athens are far more in tune with the rest of the world in education and sophistication. The country is not as developed in the sense of letting go of their provincial and religious habits. The country has many peasant folk who are not around cities, eke out their living with little money, and are unaware of modern trends.
Since Google has made translating websites to English, for the most part, quite easily, the Internet has broadened the horizons for so much of the world and continue to make the world smaller. While I haven't made a formal research project out of it, I would guess that there are two major factors that influence the effect of the Internet in the world. The first is the money to buy computers, availability to connect to the Internet, the increase of English being taught in the world, and we must accept that it is limited by those who are fearful and unable to make change. Those who really utilize their computers wish to continue to learn long after their formal school education ends. They use it to socialize, play games, record their personal history with words and pictures, email, stay in touch with their children and grandchildren and the list goes on. Though it may overwhelm some elders there are still those who used them before they reached seniority and those who want to continue to learn.
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