Family Perspectives on Technology Across Generations

By: Vicki Walton

Note to Readers

This is not intended to be a comprehensive study of how all generations experience technology. Rather, it is a family gathering that turned into a heartfelt conversation. Each of us shared our personal experiences, challenges, and concerns with technology, reflecting only our own perspectives.

Technology connects us, empowers us, and makes life more efficient. But it also frustrates, excludes, and sometimes even frightens us. I work for the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges in Washington State. My career began as an IT Technician II, and over time I moved into the role of Web Accessibility Specialist. In that position, I evaluate websites and applications using assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice command navigation, keyboard-only input, and mobile tools like TalkBack and VoiceOver.

In short, I am very much a computer person. Yet despite my background, I often find myself struggling to keep up with the relentless pace of technological change. That realization became even more meaningful after a conversation with my mother.

A Family Dialogue

My mom shared how she feels increasingly left behind by today’s digital world. What began as her personal story grew into a much bigger conversation that included my daughter, a member of Generation Z, my sister, a baby boomer, my wife, a baby boomer and me, another baby boomer.

Together, three generations of my family reflected on how technology shapes our daily lives, sometimes in empowering ways, but often in ways that cause frustration, fear, or exclusion. What started as one perspective quickly became a multigenerational dialogue about how each of us experiences technology’s rapid changes.

Mama (Pre-Internet Generation)

For my mom, the digital age feels less like progress and more like exclusion. She still prefers to talk with people rather than machines, and she dislikes being pushed to pay with credit cards instead of checks. Something as simple as a card reader can feel like a barrier, especially when every machine works differently. She told me about her frustration with her internet service provider, which has eliminated live phone support altogether. Tasks that once were simple now require her to navigate systems she never grew up using.

Daughter (Gen Z)

My daughter grew up with technology in her hands, yet she admits it does not always make life easier. Even as someone considered “tech-savvy,” she sometimes feels social pressure when using new systems in public, worried about making mistakes in front of others. She grows frustrated with how quickly things change, noting that there is never a manual to keep up with the newest updates.

She also worries about artificial intelligence, particularly its ability to create false realities and spread misinformation. She has already seen AI-generated material that blurs the line between what is real and what is fabricated, and that unsettles her. Looking ahead, she fears that when older generations are gone, society may lean too heavily on technology and lose basic human skills.

Vicki Walton (Baby Boomer, Interviewer)

As both a technology professional and a boomer, I see the human side of these shifts. To me, technology prioritizes speed and efficiency while leaving behind those who struggle to keep up. I worry about students relying on AI for schoolwork, losing opportunities to practice ethical judgment and critical thinking. I also see the potential for AI to reshape the economy, eliminating jobs and widening inequality.

Beyond that, I miss the simplicity of clearer rules and systems that felt dependable. Now, with more of life tied to digital tools and financial systems online, I feel vulnerable to hacking, fraud, and constant change.

Sister (Baby Boomer)

My sister shares some of my concerns but speaks most strongly about usability. She gets irritated by payment machines that all work differently, making her feel “dumb” despite her competence. Like my daughter, she fears the consequences of AI and worries it could eventually replace people altogether.

She also notices how much human interaction has been lost. Cell phones may connect us, but she feels they have also weakened our social skills. She even compared AI-generated content to the old War of the Worlds broadcast, warning that misinformation today could easily deceive large groups of people.

Wife (Baby Boomer)

My wife looks at the bigger picture, especially around education and security. She believes schools are not preparing students with essentials like financial literacy and taxes, leaving them dependent on systems they do not fully understand. She worries that once her generation is gone, younger people will not have the same resilience outside of technology.

Her concerns extend beyond our household. She fears that our dependence on digital systems makes us vulnerable as a society, and she wonders what would happen if those systems failed or were attacked. She points out that some countries, like China, are actively preparing for survival in ways that do not rely so completely on fragile digital networks.

What We Learned

Despite our different backgrounds and perspectives, one theme united us: technology often feels overwhelming and out of our control.

• Exclusion is real. Older generations feel locked out, while even digital natives admit the pace is impossible to master.
• We miss human connection. Machines have replaced conversations, and customer service feels harder to reach.
• AI brings unease. Across generations, we worry about misinformation, job loss, and the erosion of human skills.
• Practical skills are missing. Schools are not preparing students to thrive without technology.
• Emotions run deep. Frustration, fear, resilience, and nostalgia surfaced in every perspective.

Moving Forward Together

Our family’s conversation reminded us that technology is not just about devices, apps, or systems. It is about people, how we adapt, how we feel included or excluded, and how we remain connected to one another through rapid change.

What we shared around the table was not expert analysis or sweeping conclusions. It was something far more personal: the lived experience of three generations trying to make sense of a digital world that is always one step ahead.

It is about holding on to our humanity, our relationships, our critical thinking, and our conversations because when we value empathy, patience, and connection, we are better prepared to meet the challenges of technology together rather than alone.

” Accessibility is a fundamental right. “