The Internet Wars, Stage One
by Gerald Trites

There is a war starting that is going to change the way companies use the internet, or, more accurately, the way they allow their employees to use the internet.

A young generation is entering the workforce who has used the internet from the time they could talk. It is such a part of their life it is pretty much an extension of their personna. They use social network sites and other sites, yes, even news sites, like they breathe, talk and walk.

A great many companies and other organizations, on the other hand, have for years placed tight restrictions on the use of the internet, some would say unnecessary, even draconian restrictions. This is done in the name of security and safety, and in the name of keeping people's nose to the grindstone and not allowing them to goof off on the net during working hours.

The clash has been predicted by several writers and thinkers - Tapscott and others. But it is now a reality that is shaking up the established order.

The companies need to change their ways. For one thing, the internet is not as unsafe as they make it out to be. Lots of measures are now available to reasonably protect from the obvious threats, like viruses and hackers. For another thing, people can be more productive if given a little leeway as to how they use their time. And - and this is important - they can have more fun in the process.

The internet generation doesn't necessarily have the same time split between work time and personal time either. Word is they are willing to work all hours - and play all hours too. They want some freedom on how they use their time.

Every generation brings its own perspective to the table and sometimes changes the world - they always have that potential. The internet generation, not surprisingly, has a perspective on internet usage that the employers are going to have to listen to. And its high time they made a few changes in their outdated and repressive technology policies.

Two articles in today's news highlight this developing war. One, in Technology Review, tells of the experience of a twenties something, who found his new employer so out of touch, he moved on to a newer one. The other is an article reported on in the Globe and Mail published originally by Morgan Stanley authored by a 15 year old intern they hired for the summer that explains a teen's take on technology use. An article that does not contain a lot of revelation but is nevertheless attracting a lot of attention because it represents a voice of the new generation.

Listen up, corporate technology bosses!