Staying Connected

My journey with technology began at a young age, as my family are early adopters to change, especially in the world of technology. My aunt would be the main person who has influenced this connection I have with the digital world, as she was 17 years old when I was born. This age gap meant that she could understand the new developments in technological devices and then pass that knowledge (and device) to me once the next best thing was out. 

However, my love for technology just doesn’t come from my aunt who considers herself a digital native, but from the ways in which my family connects and interacts on the online world. As my family members are living in Hawaii, America and England, keeping in touch can be difficult at times. Social media has helped us keep in contact with Facebook being our main tool for communication. Although, whenever a new application is released we are always keen to try it out. From Viber to Instagram to Snapchat.

Statistically, my family uses the internet more than average if comparing it to the Australia Bureau of Statistics report (2016). My grandmother (digital immigrant) who is currently 72 years old, uses the internet on a daily basis for relaxation, research and connecting. Her overall usage in a week would be more than double the average noted in the report. As a digital immigrant, she still retains her “accent” . When she installs a new program, she would revert to a manual rather than assuming the program will guide her through it.

She discovered her passion for quilting later in life and uses technology to share and connect with people from around the world with the same interest. She uses Instagram as a means to share her creations with her 543 followers, and to gain inspiration from other quilters. She uses technology not only for sharing and connecting but to further develop her skills using a range of applications from YouTube videos for tutorials to discussion forums. Seeing how my grandmother uses technology keeps me inspired to continue to further my knowledge of technology and how to make the most of the online world.

Although I use Facebook, I don’t tend to post as much anymore as I use it mainly to keep in contact with everyone. If we want to send quick updates of our day my friends and family tend to use Snapchat as it an easy tool to use. I have used social media to enter competitions as well. In 2015, I entered a Facebook competition to win a year’s supply of Slurpees from 7-11 and won. During orientation week this year, I won a competition with Bridge Climb Sydney through Instagram.

Being a digital native, like my aunt, I consider technology to be integrated in my day to day life. Technology has given me the opportunity to have a global family and make connections with family that in the past would not have happened.