How the disconnected are changing the world

As a youngster I remember my parents telling me over and over to “Step away from the TV, you’ll get square eyes!” as I sat only inches away from the TV screen watching cartoons or movies. Being an adult and still having this said to me made me think how things haven’t changed, or have they?

Kids are still only inches away from the screen, but now it’s a smart phone or tablet screen and not a big box on the television cabinet. There is a common perception that these kids are becoming disconnected from society by not being outside and living life, but who do these children become?

I recently looked at a list of ’40 Young People Who Became Millionaire’s Before They Were 20’*. Here are some of the youngsters that stood out to me:

• Robert Nay: At 14, developed 4,000 lines of code to create the Bubble Ball game, earning him $2 million in the first two weeks.
• Juliath Brindak:At 16, developed a social media platform which is now worth an estimated $15 million.
• Nick D'Aloisio:At 17, developed a news app reported to be worth $30 million.

I found it incredibly fascinating to see how many young people around the world are building their millions on the foundation of technology. This is the technology that an older generation claims we’re addicted to.

Of course, I naturally felt mediocre that my hours in front of the TV screen hadn’t made me a bigshot film director earning millions. If only my parents hadn’t of pleaded with me to step away from the TV! Thankfully their begging meant I spent more hours playing with friends, reading books and enjoying adventures outdoors.

Now technology is such a big part of our lives; we are able to track our sleeping pattern, our heart rate, the steps we take each day and a lot more, all on one single device. The young people of today only know this atmosphere surrounded by this technology. They aren’t afraid to press buttons, change settings or try something new. They are developers of their own environment!

Some may fear this dependence on technology, however the benefits far outweigh the negatives in a big way. The development of tests to detect serious illness sooner, the speed at which money can be invested globally and the way we now educate our children are just a few things we owe to breakthroughs in the tech sector.

Next time you see a young person with their face in their smart phone or tablet, just remember they could be developing something life-changing.

Tell me, what would you have done with your first million dollars as a youngster?

*List http://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/40-young-people-who-became-millionaires-before-they-were-20.html