Australia | Deep Dive: 5. What We Want

Tech giants that used to be seen as the hero brands for this generation, went through a difficult patch with data scandals, fake news and overreach of powers. But those same companies have now taken a more serious approach to preserving the trust of this generation.

Young Aussies feel so strongly about tech because it is inextricably fused with their real lives. They use it to facilitate and maintain relationships. They crave love and security as much as any other generation and nearly half believe in ‘happily ever after’. Maintaining physical and digital contact with others is a key part of achieving this. Still, they often fear our lack of control over what the future holds. After all, almost half think there is nothing they can do about our data being shared and used.

Technology could also be the answer to many of the other concerns young Aussies have raised in this study. We have seen plenty of examples of technology completely reimagining real world problems, from directly distributing vital (often life-saving) humanitarian aid where it is most needed, to giving victims of sexual abuse a voice through the #MeToo movement.

Young Aussies are a resilient, creative, caring group that genuinely have a ‘we-not-me’ attitude to the planet and their global family and they see technology as a way of keeping in touch with world issues.