Tradeoff

(1) Amy Nixon (@texasrunnerDFW) / X

Also, Gen X, if you started early (as I did). The sweet spot of tech adding many benefits while avoiding most drawbacks was around 1986-1999. Being charitable, it could be extended up until social media became more popular, around 2005. I wouldnโ€™t, though, as ubiquitous mass surveillance had already become easy at that point.

But in 1990, you could dial into a BBS, chat with someone, download a little game, then go outside and ride your bike. Social ties werenโ€™t destroyed by tech and if someone wanted to surveil you, they had to have a real reason.

Also, no smartphones, which are nothing but evil.