Hark!: Tapscott V

How do we get people to listen? How does a person express their thoughts to the multitudes effectively? In the past, perhaps shouting it from the rooftops was the most effective way of getting a point across. But now, media is the best. And not just media, but social media.

As one example, consider the quickly spreading phenomenon of "Going Green". People everywhere are beginning to be more conscious of how they effect the planet with the way they live and the things they consume. Going "Green" is not just a big-city fad anymore. Thanks to the Internet and social media, living a more "earth-friendly" lifestyle is becoming habit for people of all American cultural backgrounds, be it rural, urban, suburban and the like.

Tapscott puts this statement out there: ". . .a majority of young people in the United States are changing their own behavior and becoming green consumers" (Tapscott 271). Tapscott goes on to list several examples of Net Geners who are taking the time to effect change within their spheres of influence to bring about a more earth-friendly culture. It no longer matters as much where you live but who you are connected to and what thought patterns you share and develop as a result.

"Nowadays, every young activist or volunteer has a printing press at his or her fingertips" (Tapscott 274). Literally, every time someone updates their status on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc. their thoughts, opinions, and ideas are impressed upon those who might view their post. It's like walking around with a megaphone broadcasting your views to the world (or at least to those who would listen). So, if you think that we should all venture after the pursuit of finding uses for grey water, you might post it. After posting it, one of your contacts might see this post, consider your idea and pass it on to their network of friends. Thus, ideas are spread, change is made, and more people are connected by an idea.

This is the new way of spreading information. And who knows what will be next? Who knows what path this type of communication will set us on? Ideas that spread like wildfire may have less time to be fully considered first. . .