GenNBN will never work an eight-hour day

According to a new report commissioned by nbn (formerly known as NBN Co), the next generation of Australians may never put in an uninterrupted eight-hour working day, watch a preprogrammed TV show or aspire to live in a capital city.

The report was developed by demographer Bernard Salt of KPMG Demographics and provides a unique insight into how cultural change and advancements have transformed what we used to regard as the ‘Aussie way of life’.

The report refers to Australia’s newest and most connected generation as ‘GenNBN’ (whether that name sticks remains to be seen) and argues that a generation of Australian kids, raised in the digital age with universal access to fast broadband, will rearrange the traditional work-rest-play lifestyle model to better suit their own needs.

“Our research identifies a new generation likely to emerge in the 2020s - GenNBN - the first generation of young Australians raised to maturity in a supremely connected world powered by universal access to fast broadband,” said Salt.

“Freed by technology from the dogma of living in the suburbs and working in the city, this new generation will increasingly reorganise when and where work is delivered. Work in the future may be completed in blocks of time spread throughout the day or the week and delivered from the home, a cafe or even from the beach.”

Then vs now - cultural change and technology advances shape our day.

“The next generation will be even better connected with the global community, which will open up new business, trade and cultural opportunities. We may even see a sprout in niche sporting and entertainment options which we have never had access to, such as the thrill of Canadian curling or the drama of live heart surgery.

“This level of super connectedness will help deliver Australians the lifestyle they have always wanted: better connectivity to close the digital divide, enhanced personal relationships and to facilitate the pursuit of new leisure interests.”

nbn announced in April that work to build the broadband network for more than one-third of Australians would be completed or underway within the next two years, with an aim to provide access to fast broadband for all Australians by 2020.

More information on the report can be found here.