Today I’m looking for your insight on a phenomenon I see a lot with people over a certain age: fearfulness and anxiety around tech.
Those of you who’ve followed my posts for a while know how much I promote the use of new media in a writing career. I think it can make it more powerful, enjoyable, and sustainable.
But when I travel to conferences, or speak conversationally with friends (about their older parents), it’s clear that there’s a significant cross-section of the population who just aren’t comfortable with tech. (And then there’s another section of people who are kinda comfortable, but don’t want to push the boundaries.)
I don’t quite understand it—where does this fearfulness or tentativeness come from? Why is there anxiety about “breaking” the computer? Where does the resistance originate?
Since I don’t really know, I’d love to collect your thoughts. What do you think?
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has nearly 25 years of experience in the media & publishing industry. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019.
In addition to being a professor with The Great Courses (How to Publish Your Book), she is the author of The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal.
Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as Digital Book World and Frankfurt Book Fair, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.