“ I don’t care, I don’t want to live with you, I can’t take this pressure anymore, you imposing restrictions on my life. This generation gap is real ” Adam said to his dad.

Adam is now a teenager and doesn’t want any restrictions on him, he doesn’t want to help around while living with his parents.

His parents want him to follow the rules of the home,to lead his life in order.

We are seeing these issues more often around us, where young people don’t want to get restricted and want to be free early-on in their life, and blaming generation gap for it.

With the inclusion of social media and technology in our lives, new generation is not willing to compromise at any cost, whether it’s about finance or live together as a family. Hence, generation gap is affecting family dynamics.

The generation gap is widening more than ever

 But what is a generation gap?

A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values. In today’s usage, the generation gap often refers to a perceived gap between younger people and their parents or grandparents.

Family values and traditions were the core of bonding among families. Earlier generations were bonded together regardless of the restrictions and differences in opinion among family.

With the passage of time, generation gap is widening and creating imbalance in society, where older generations are much lonely than ever before.

Let’s dig into the ways in which the generation gap is affecting family dynamics:

TECHNOLOGY AND GENERATION GAP

The advancement of technology has brought significant changes in our life. With gaming industry has shifted the focus of young kids toward screens.

Parents started to give gaming gadgets to kids, so they can be busy and do not bother them while they are working, this has made kids addicted to games.

Gaming and technology have a huge impact on a new generation’s behavior, where they do not listen to their parents and always want to stick to gadgets.

Smart phones and various apps have made new generation gets addicted to phone screens.

New generation is focusing to post daily life routine on social media now. Less conversation about life goals and more conversation about online posting have become a norm

Rude behavior from kids/teenagers towards their parents/grandparents has created a huge impact.

Younger people are blaming it on the generation gap and mostly blaming their parents for not being tech-savvy.

This has certainly affected family dynamics, due to the new generation wanting to live their lives on their terms, without getting schooled about not using technology too much.

OLD TACTICS TO HANDLE NEW GENERATION

Parenting is not easy to do. Especially in this era, where lifestyles have completely changed. The older generation has not updated their ways of tackling their kids.

They emphasize old ways of parenting, which has made it difficult for new generations to accept it.

Hence, new generations do not want to be a part of family gatherings and always want to hang out with their friends.

They want to avoid interactions with their parents because of their nosy approach.

Older generations need to mold themselves to tackle this generation gap.

For instance,dictating your terms should be avoided.

Dictating is a old tactic, new generation will not value it anymore.

Imposing opinions are a thing of past, this old tactic should be avoided.

Older generations should be open to new ideas and be progressive about new thoughts

Fights should be avoided at family gatherings, new generation is sensitive is this regard.

LACK OF RESPECT AMONG NEW GEN

Respect is a part of history now. The new generation has totally rolled over the respect towards their elders.

A difference of opinion doesn’t mean that you do not have to respect your elders.

Stepping away from your roots has certainly made the new generation forget about the importance of respect towards elders.

New-gen should understand that older generations have more experience of life than them,

and experienced people will always try to teach younger ones, but that requires respect towards the older generation.

This has certainly created a generation gap and changed family dynamics due to the lack of interaction.

POLITICAL DIFFERENCES

Political differences have clearly divided us.

The rise of political awareness have made it difficult to make a conversation among families.

Differences in political opinions have divided both generations.

Extremist ideology from one party for other party have made it difficult to discuss politics.

Older generations believe their political choices are far better then younger ones and vice versa

Politics should not be part of discussion, if opinions are not welcome from both sides.

Family dynamics affected?

The above reasons have led to changes in our family dynamics. Older generations are more lonely now than ever before.

Visiting parents/grandparents on a continuous basis have declined drastically which is making older generations lonely.

The new generation should understand that difference in opinion doesn’t mean you have to part ways.