OPINION: Keeping up with the Times

Photo via: Gaël Hurlimann/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Ava Jelepis, a Sophomore studying Journalism and Political Science, argues that the cultural shift toward digital-only transactions deepens the digital divide, to the dismay of Generation Z and senior citizens alike.

Over the summer, I attended a baseball game with my parents. My dad, being old-fashioned, printed out the tickets instead of saving them on his phone. When we got to the game, we were told that the stadium no longer accepts printed tickets, so we headed to guest services to get it sorted out. We were not the only ones who tried to print their tickets as there was a line of other people who made the same mistake. The majority of the individuals were older. One older gentleman in front of us joked, “They are trying to get rid of us.” 

Everything moving digital seems to make things simple and more convenient on the surface. We live in a society where using cash is on a decline because we are able to tap our Apple watches on an iPad to pay. Out of 53.7% of in-store, mobile-wallet transitions in 2025, consumers use Apple Pay. We are able to work and take classes from home thanks to hybrid and online structures. Pretty much anything we used to do in person, such as shopping, taking notes, forming a relationship, making art, reading, and forming human connections, can now be done online. 

Our daily lives moving online seem to be for the purpose of saving time and money, and not with the goal of leaving older people out. However, it does have unintended consequences on older generations and creates a “digital divide.” This also applies to those who struggle financially or do not have internet access. So, in a world where technology is advancing every day and everything is moving digital, is it possible to keep up? And, how much harder is it to keep up for older generations and those with financial struggles?

For older generations, the digital divide can lead to social isolation, less access to online health care and an increased likelihood of being scammed online. To combat the divide, some community and senior centers are offering workshops on digital literacy. These programs can help older individuals with learning basic internet and technology skills as well as online safety. There are also technology companies that specialize in user-friendly devices for seniors such as the Grandpad.

There is a social impact community called Generation Connect that “brings together teens and seasoned adults for engagement, enhancement and entertainment services.” Their goal is to close the digital divide. 

“Baby boomers are turning 60 every day, and they want to age in place, but they’ll need help mastering technology. Teens are trained to assist seasoned adults in a way they can understand with compassion and patience, to guide them with their phones, computers, or Alexa. In return, they get golden nuggets, life lessons that they’ll never get in the classroom. Everyone’s confidence increases,” said Generation Connect founder, Candace Walker. 

People who experience socioeconomic challenges can also be subjected to the digital divide. They can experience a lack of internet services, affordable devices and healthcare. They may also have little digital literacy due to the scarce amount of digital devices in certain areas. This can create education and employment barriers, which creates an awful cycle while adding to class divisions. The digital divide can also apply to those who are experiencing being unhoused, as carrying cash is on the decline, which means less spontaneous cash donations. 

Additionally, The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which was a Federal Communications Commission program that provided discounts to eligible low-income households on internet service and devices, ended in June of 2024, due to a lack of funding from Congress; 23 million people were negatively affected by the loss of the ACP.

“My husband had a medical incident that could not be monitored because we did not have WiFi. We were unable to afford it at the time of the incident. We live on a very strict income, and any variance causes cuts in other areas that are equally important,” Deanna T. shared with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. 

In order to help combat the digital divide for those with socioeconomic challenges, there are low-cost internet programs, spaces with devices and internet access, such as community centers and public libraries, and digital literacy workshops. There are also nonprofit organizations, such as PCs for People, which is “a national nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income.” According to their website, they have helped people across the United States have better access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

Generation Z grew up in the digital age, so for most of us, smartphones and internet access are an essential part of our lives. However, that doesn't mean that the internet doesn't affect Gen Z at all. The internet is a link to poor mental health in Gen Z and high social media use has been seen as a direct correlation with depression and anxiety.

Though Gen Z has grown up alongside the digital age, the younger generation has an increased interest in physical media. People want things that are tangible, such as physical books, DVDs, vinyls and Polaroid photos. Everything being digital, either on a phone or computer, to me at least, makes it less special. People are starting to want media that they can call their own.

Going back to my baseball game experience over the summer, I wish that I had a physical ticket to remember my experience by. On top of that, we bought a box of Cracker Jacks (very baseball, I know). Inside, there was not a small figurine, but a QR code to an online game. 

This urge for physical media can also lead to overconsumption, for instance, Labubus. I think that one of the main reasons that people are crazy over Labubus and other similar small figurines is due to the fact that people want something fun that they are able to collect, not a QR code.

As a journalism major, you are bound to hear the phrase “print is dead,” which is not true. However, journalism and how we consume media is definitely changing due to the digital age. A lot of news sources have been expanding into multimedia and posting videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Over half of TikTok users say they get news on their feed. 

Although I do not believe that print is dead, many newspapers are cutting back on or completely ending production of their newspapers and moving completely to digital. On December 31, 2025, the Atlanta Journal Constitution is set to publish its last print and move to digital after 157 years of operation. News moving digital also negatively affects those with less internet access, and newspapers could be the way they receive their information.

Technology is constantly changing our world, now more than ever, as we try to adapt to the rise of AI. Though Gen Z may be seen as tech-savvy now, I am sure that in 50 years, technology will make the world look like a totally different place. Articles like this may not even exist, and the way we consume knowledge could be totally different, maybe even told to us by a humanoid robot. But for now, we will have to wait and see what treasures can be found in a box of Cracker Jacks in 2070.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.