2026-01-16 05:24:53

There's something distinct about how late Gen X and early Millennials approach digital privacy—they're the bridge generation. They remember the pre-internet world, yet caught the digital wave early enough to witness its entire evolution. That hands-on history created a visceral understanding of surveillance and privacy that later generations often lack.

But here's the paradox: despite this awareness, society collectively shrugged. Privacy concerns that felt urgent two decades ago now feel quaint. Maybe it's fatigue, maybe it's the normalization of data collection, or maybe younger cohorts who grew up with smartphones as extensions of themselves never developed that friction. They accepted the trade-off from day one.

In the Web3 space, this generational gap matters. Those who understand what was lost tend to care about decentralization and digital sovereignty. The others? They're just chasing yield.

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RunWithRugs

· 1h ago

Honestly, those chasing yield will always chase yield... The generation that truly understands privacy has long seen through it.

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CryptoTherapist

· 23h ago

ngl this generational trauma thing hits different when u map it onto trading behavior. like literally ur portfolio allocation screams "i remember when privacy mattered" vs "lol what's data anyway"

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LiquidatedAgain

· 01-16 05:54

It's a pity we couldn't know earlier... Our generation has indeed witnessed the entire process of the internet, from the privacy anxieties of that time to the current collective abandonment, making me feel like a living fossil. But the irony is, those who truly understand decentralization still turn around and get疯狂抄底 by yield farmers, only to be liquidated again and again. In Web3, those shouting for sovereignty and independence still get margin called when borrowing rates skyrocket, which is quite surreal.

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PoetryOnChain

· 01-16 05:53

Really, our generation is just an awkward transitional one... Having seen the world before the internet and experienced the entire privacy massacre. Today's young people can't imagine the terrifying feeling of being monitored back then.

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metaverse_hermit

· 01-16 05:51

The older generation indeed has this advantage, having witnessed the entire process of privacy disappearance... But to be honest, who still cares now? Everyone has already gotten used to being monitored. NGL, there are very few people in Web3 who truly understand decentralization; most are still chasing quick riches. Gen X could still make choices back then, but children born now have no options at all. This generation gap really can't be bridged. That said, the conflict between idealism and realism has always existed, and each generation is the same.

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LayerHopper

· 01-16 05:48

Ah, you're right... Our generation has indeed witnessed the internet from nothing to something. Now seeing young people treat privacy as a commodity to sell, it's really a bit powerless. --- That part about web3 really hit me. Most people come in just to make quick money, they don't care about sovereignty at all, it's hilarious. --- Two years ago, I was arguing with friends about privacy issues. Now... everyone has compromised, including myself. Isn't that ironic? --- So ultimately, it's fatigue. Can't resist the temptation of convenience, and then get used to being monitored... --- The term "bridge generation" is spot on. We are truly the most uncomfortable generation caught in the middle—seeing the problems clearly but unable to change them. --- Honestly, the younger generation has no choice. They've been trapped since birth. No wonder they feel helpless—it's a systemic issue. --- So can web3 really achieve decentralization, or will it also become just another mechanism to cut the leeks...

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