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SALT LAKE CITY — As a member of Generation X, I propose a nickname to the current group of teens who are technically dubbed Generation Z but could also be known as Generation IDK.
With three teenage girls, I’m supposed to be in a constant state of frustration. But honestly, I’m more frustrated with simple irritants like text messages that include the acronym IDK — shortcut for “I don’t know.”
First of all, no member of Generation X would ever admit to not knowing something — we knew everything from a very early age. It was my BYU professor, Dr. Laurie Wilson, in an introductory public relations course who first taught me that it was OK to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Today’s teens often say, “IDK” but leave out the critical “BIFO” post clause, leaving the message receiver in an awkward state of unsettled business.
My husband and I have no desire nor funding to outfit all three teens with their own cellphones, so we have a spare they share on occasion. Sometimes I text their friends to relay messages. Unlike Generation IDK, my text messages are not casual conversations of little consequence. When I take the time to type something, I’m actually looking for immediate, intelligent feedback.
Recent examples:
“Can I pick you guys up or is your mom bringing you both home?”
“IDK”
“What time is your play practice finished?”
“IDK”
“Where did your mom buy that awesome tie dye kit so I can get one for your volleyball team party?”
“IDK”
When you receive IDK as an answer to your question, all sense of progression and planning comes to a screeching halt, which is not a pleasant state of mind for an adult Generation Xer.
Our current group of teens was born after the advent of the Internet, and they’ve always had an electronic gadget in their hand or back pocket. They have no experience writing a research paper using library books and a card catalog nor staring out the car window and making up license plate games on a long drive. Their education and entertainment are largely influenced by personal electronics, which is exciting and tragic at the same time.
I still remember when the honeymoon ended for me and my cellphone. It was Christmas, and all my extended family was gathered together for the holidays. Wanting an evening out for dinner and a Temple Square light tour, we gathered in the kitchen with prime opportunity to plan logistics of destinations, parking places and timing when my sister said, “Oh let’s just go, we’ll figure it out on the way and call each other.”
The night was fun but mentally disastrous because plans constantly changed en route with every ring of the phone and someone’s new idea. As the oldest, organized one, the method was maddening as it promulgated indecisiveness and rewarded frivolous spontaneity. Years later, I believe it’s become status quo.
My daughters and I often butt heads when they ask permission to do something with friends.
“What’s your plan?” I predictably ask.
“I don’t know, I’ll call and let you know,” they respond, but that proposal is hard for me to say yes to.
So I’ve learned to say “I don’t know” right back, which doesn’t feel right nor solve anything.
In some ways, interpersonal communication has become less effective as opportunities have exponentially risen. We may be able to communicate more often with text messages than with long, hand-written letters, but the results are sometimes less heartfelt and less considerate.
On the other hand, communicating with dozens of people every day through simple messages, posts, texts and tweets connects us and enriches purposeful daily living. Instead of waiting for a letter to arrive in the mailbox, we can know someone is thinking of us instantly and vice versa. We can ask questions just seconds after thinking of them and hopefully receive more than just an IDK in return.
I hope all generations will celebrate our connectivity and take advantage of opportunities to communicate effectively. As long as IDK is followed by a sincere BIFO, we’ll all be better off.
Stacie Lloyd Duce is a columnist and magazine editor featured regularly in several Montana and Utah publications.
