I have a 10-month-old daughter. The most interesting thing is that whenever she hears my phone ringing, she gets excited and tries to swipe to answer it. Even though I never show her videos on a smartphone or let her watch TV. I am very careful about my own phone use around her, still she already seems to know how to handle these gadgets.
This small observation made me realize how fast the world is changing. In my childhood, we used to play outside; our rooftop and front yard were our personal heavens. Now, kids spend most of their time indoors in front of devices. While we all know the negative side of this shift, the positive part is that learning anything has become incredibly easy. From crocheting to playing the ukulele, everything is accessible through Youtube.
In my childhood, our primary medium for learning was books. We looked up new words in an Oxford Dictionary, and books like World of Facts and the Junior Encyclopedia were the most fascinating things we owned. We spent hours looking at those pictures and reading interesting facts. Now, those books sit on bookshelves collecting dust.
My sister and I also used to wait for the newspaper every morning. I still read the news today, but I find myself mostly scanning and skipping through headlines.
We also looked forward to the annual book fair, where we would make lists of books to collect from various publishers. When our bags became too heavy to carry, my father would come to our rescue. These encyclopedias, newspapers, and book fairs were our windows to the world. Today, they seem almost outdated.
Reflecting on this, I realize how much my own learning process has evolved. I’ll admit it—I’m still a nerd! I am a true learning enthusiast. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, I used that time to take certified courses on Coursera. It was a great pleasure to study psychology, sustainable development, mindfulness, academic writing, and business from top institutions like Cambridge, the University of British Columbia, and Yonsei University. Looking at those certificates still gives me a “feel good" vibe.
Over the last few years, my professional life has also kept me in sync with this changing world. I worked as a scriptwriter for a popular business YouTube channel and later as a business newsletter writer. Both roles required me to collect daily updates and synthesize them in my own style.
Now, as a full-time mom, I stay updated through online newsletters, e-papers, and social media. However, I notice that the older generation struggles with this new landscape. One major issue is fake news and clickbait; our seniors are often the primary audience for these misleading portals, and it is a challenge to help them distinguish fact from fiction. They are also, unfortunately, the most frequent victims of online scams.
As for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, they often spend a significant amount of time on reels and social media. It surprises me how much knowledge they possess on various issues, but the problem lies in their patience. Because of short attention spans, educational videos have become shorter. Consequently, while they have broad knowledge, they often lack depth. Surface-level knowledge can only take one so far.
For both my older and younger family members, I try to teach patience first. Step by step, I help them learn new things and show them how to cope emotionally. Whenever any of us feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information out there, the first thing I say is, “Accept it.” It is okay not to know everything. We need to slow down in this fast-paced world and let go of comparisons. To refresh my mind, I practice journaling—it is an excellent exercise for building emotional resilience, and I believe it can work for anyone.
Most importantly, I love learning from everyone. My school-aged nephews and nieces are some of my greatest sources of inspiration. It is a wonder to see how they observe the world around them. I believe that stepping aside from your ego and embracing your “lighter self” is the best way to keep pace with the world.
Happy learning to all!