I reach for the Twitter app again while I lie awake, imprisoned in the inky clutches of sleeplessness. It’s an odd ritual, motivated by a bizarre yearning to be stung by a virtual reality, to feel something, even if it’s just a twinge of discomfort. The scrolling continues until I come across a tweet that doesn’t bear my name but manages to pierce the night’s silence with its message: “You’re old for this place.” It’s not a malicious message but a digital reminder that I no longer fit the mould.
As the forefathers of the online world, we millennials find ourselves at an intriguing crossroads, where the digital sphere we created is taking on a life of its own. It’s like looking at a city we built with our own hands and seeing how its architecture and dynamics alter like tides. Our digital fingerprints are imprinted across platforms and technology that have come to define modern life. However, as the virtual metropolis evolves, we must navigate its ever-changing topography. It’s as if we created a bustling cityscape only to discover ourselves as newbies trying to find our place in the bustling streets we made. Just as urban landscapes morph with time, so does the online world we nurtured, calling us to adapt, learn, and redefine our roles within this constantly evolving cyber domain.
Remember the early days of the Internet? When the digital landscape was new ground bursting with boundless possibilities? It was a realm akin to the Twilight Zone, where we wielded the power of anonymity like a mystical cloak of invisibility. Social conventions were just recommendations, not the unbreakable codes they are now. We walked freely in the enormous expanse of the World Wide Web, abandoning our real-world identities to become digital chameleons, adopting any character we pleased. The recollections of those early internet adventures return like a bright technicolour dream. It was akin to going on a virtual sleepover, a midnight adventure where reality’s limits were briefly suspended, and we could revel in the sheer exhilaration of limitless discovery. We were freed from the commonplace in its virtual realms, transcending time zones and societal norms to create an alternate cosmos where everything was conceivable. Back then, I thought of the internet as a haven only for the young. I would have laughed at the idea of growing old online, thinking this realm would forever be an enclave for the youth. But oh, how the tides have turned.
A carefully crafted cosmology now reigns within the internet’s labyrinth, one where the art of personal branding is enthroned. Likes, shares, and followers, once only measurements, are now masquerading as indicators of our true worth. It’s a place where dopamine’s euphoric surges have given way to heavy-hearted shame, a duality we negotiate as we try to balance needing affirmation and keeping our authenticity. The social media platforms, those virtual domains that have become intertwined with our very being, take centre stage in this drama. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were all created, nourished, and matured under our watch. Nonetheless, a digital revolution unfolds as the following wave takes centre stage.
Take TikTok, for instance. I succumbed to its fascination during the pandemic, captivated by its algorithmic prowess. It’s a place where the platform seems to anticipate your every whim, a dynamic ecosystem that’s inextricably linked to the lives of its members. However, it feels like stumbling into a neon-lit Vegas on a wild night out for many millennials. The algorithm knows what younger people want, but it’s like navigating a foreign city without a map. TikTok is just one symptom of a more significant problem: the growing digital generation gap. Our first online adventures were amorous on MSN and music forums, while we adored hipster hairstyles on MySpace. We graduated to following explicit bloggers on Tumblr, a realm we ventured into with zeal. But as the platforms transformed, we aged – and so did the virtual playgrounds.
Age in the digital realm is a fascinating riddle. Offline, 30 or 40 doesn’t redefine you. Online, it does. A clear boundary emerges, carved out by the memes and comments that create a distinction between the “youthful” and the “mature.” It’s odd, like being stuck between two parallel universes – one of familiarity and one of novelty. This digital paradox is akin to riding the line between two universes, where the outlines of the familiar mix with the features of the new, placing us in a state of constant negotiation between our former digital identities and the evolving present.
As I navigate this ever-shifting terrain, the question arises: How does one age gracefully online? A reflection emerges among the tidal flood of transformation. Perhaps it is time to examine the purpose of these virtual worlds. It’s an opportunity to experiment with and create a digital presence that values experience, community, and cooperation.
The ageing trajectory in the online realm transcends the boundaries of just one generation, echoing as a universal tale across age groups. This story serves as a sobering reminder that the digital landscape is in constant flux, similar to the ebb and flow of tides. As millennials previously revelled in the expanding promise of the digital revolution, the current scenario provides us with a front-row seat to a renaissance, a sort of rebirth. Our experience navigating the process of growing older in the digital domain, guided by the relentless march of technology, stands as a resounding monument to the incredible adaptability of individuals and the indomitable endurance of our virtual communities.
Amid this digital odyssey, where progress and transformation are constant companions, we find ourselves on the verge of another
Author- Amar Chowdhury
