The Era of Crisis: Technology's Role in Shaping the Upcoming Generation

Our future lays in the dance between technology and human ingenuity

Does history unfold in cycles? Do different generations have different roles to play? American author Neil Howe believes so–and his work has deeply influenced men from former Vice President Al Gore to Steve Bannon. Indeed, to understand how different generations respond to the challenges they face, it’s essential to understand Howe’s four-turnings framework.

Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Hieronymus Bosch, 1489, Lázaro Galdiano Museum/Wikimedia.

 Howe delineates four cyclical, generational archetypes: High, Awakening, Unraveling, and Crisis–each characterized by distinct sociopolitical and economic traits. The fourth era, the crisis era, is a tumultuous period rife with social upheaval, but ideally, it produces resilient and pragmatic generations ready to weather the storm. 

While the current generation, millennials, were destined for that "crisis era," it’s on us to understand how the coming turmoil and upheaval will mold the generation that inherits it. At the same time, it’s our responsibility to understand the central role technology will play in steering this next generation's path.

This next generation, poised to come of age amid the crisis, will bear its imprints. Their values and behaviors will evolve in the face of the economic instability, political turbulence, and mounting demographic and geopolitical challenges that will shape our world for the coming decades. If they are to succeed in facing the challenges of the 21st century, they must be defined by resilience, adaptability, and tenacity.

A detail from Death And The Miser, Hieronymus Bosch, 1490s, Google Art Project/Wikimedia.

Of all the challenges facing the youngest generation, technology is the central crucible. In Neil Howe's latest work, "The Fourth Turning Is Here," he underscores the breadth and depth of crises enveloping this generation: economic crises, geopolitical crises, social crises, and the profound crisis of values. These challenges, coupled with the allure of technology’s instant gratification, will prove formidable.

With smartphones in their pockets and the world at their fingertips, the young have grown addicted to instant gratification. This digital realm of instant answers and immediate rewards has cultivated expectations of swift solutions and frictionless experiences. This convenience also fosters impatience and a sense of entitlement, however, undermining the resilience needed to confront the multifaceted crises of our time. Balancing the comfort of technology with the patience our world requires will be a top challenge.

Economic uncertainty is another of the most pressing difficulties. The rapid pace of technological innovation has reshaped industries and the nature of work, introducing automation and augmenting the gig economy. The post-pandemic economic uncertainty, marked by high inflation, broken global supply chains, recurring shocks to economies in different geographies and exacerbated by war in Ukraine, social unrest, and natural disasters, has created unprecedented uncertainty. Economic stability, once taken for granted, is now a rare commodity.  

A detail from Christ Carrying The Cross, Hieronymus Bosch, 1510-1535. Museum of Fine Arts Ghent/Wikimedia.

Technology plays a dual role here, contributing to instability through automation, while also offering solutions by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Understanding this nuanced interplay is critical for to harnessing the opportunities while addressing the challenges. 

The geopolitical landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, marked by rising global tensions and the reconfiguration of international alliances. Technology plays a pivotal role in this, remaking the global power struggle with the addition of digital warfare, cyber-espionage, and weaponized information and economic tools.

To navigate this turbulent geopolitical terrain, the youngest generation must understand the nature of technology and use it thoughtfully and efficiently. They must discern between fact and fiction in the digital realm and recognize the implications of their own online actions. Technological literacy is not just a matter of convenience but a crucial tool in understanding and influencing the geopolitical challenges they are facing. 

Technology has connected the world, but also exacerbated our divisions. The echo chambers of social media and the spread of misinformation have given rise to polarization and social discord. To address the crisis of values and bridge social divides, the young must harness technology to foster genuine dialogue and understanding. This requires a conscious approach to using tech that transcends echo chambers and engages with diverse perspectives. This generation can play a pivotal role in healing a divided society by using technology for empathy and connection, rather than division.

The Conjurer, Hieronymus Bosch, 1496-1520, Saint-Germain-En-Laye Civic Museum/Wikimedia.

If correctly harnessed, technology can make Millennials agile, innovative, and well-informed. It can allow them to cultivate resilience, over division or instant gratification. The key lies in embracing tech for problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration. By leveraging their digital skills to adapt to economic shifts faster, understand complex geopolitical dynamics better, and bridge social divisions while restoring universal values and principles, the youngest generation can rise to the challenges of their era.

Technology's dark allures threaten their resilience, but can also serve as a wellspring of strength. Tech can be used as a force for positive change, but that takes understanding the complexities of our relationship with it. Millennials and Generation Z have the potential to emerge from the crisis not as weakened individuals but as a resilient and adaptive cohort capable of addressing the profound challenges of our time. Man’s future ultimately lays with this dance between technology and human ingenuity.