10MPlayer Loc: California

That's a really good question. I think the younger people mostly want to snap pics of their friends so they can post them in text messages or Instagrams. Unless they have a specific interest in sports photography or wildlife photography there probably isn't a lot of need for a real camera. The phone cam will do the job quite nicely.

I'm hoping, for the sake of the industry, there will be a niche of young people who, like people who still like vinyl records, will buy and use cameras and do what us old farts consider real photography. I think there will always be a place for a real camera with telephoto lenses and the ability to control depth of field etc.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The grammar police of UHH will have more trouble with the young n hip than the community's rejection of their cell phone photography posts to the Photo Gallery.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well stated!
And true on all counts.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I dunno. There is the language of texting, and the language of youthful discourse. They are not necessarily the same.

My kids speak passable ebonics when around their African American friends. Then they write college level English prose for their university courses. Totally different structures there... each consistent, with its own grammatical subset.

It's a chameleon skill. It's like native Spanish-speaking Mexicans learning to speak or sing in English with a perfectly neutral "American broadcast English" accent. I had an employee work for me for several years, before she told me she was born in Saltillo. Her English was impeccable. I had no idea she was a naturalized citizen, until she told me she was going back to visit her parents. We added "translator" to her duties when she returned, and gave her a raise. She was a great "find."

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

First, I need the definition of "Younger". It sounds like anyone under 60 is consider young?
For me, the expense of photography is off-set by my personal return-on-investment. I define and justify the my expense with the personal satisfaction of creativity, mental challenge and intellectual stimulation, and of course, documentation of priceless personal memories. Plus, my photo pursuit is as non-seasonal as I choose. I just wish I had more money to spend for GAS. I feel like I'm in good company here with the older set....and I'm really not concerned about "younger" users. They have their own (evolving) interest...and I won't dictate mine.

I could be playing video games, gardening or raising puppies...and there's nothing wrong with that either I've made my choice

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Rather than a survey of the ancients, why not a survey of the spend-thrifts that refuse the Adobe subscription? Our youngers are already subscribed to phone, netflix, and probably several I've never heard of. Software to edit photos for people who will never see them, not a high priority...

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Problemis, among a litany of others, is AGEISM. And, believe it or not, REVERSE AGEISM. A young photographer sees or perceives an old photographer with a graybeard perhaps using some "old school" gear or methodologies that are turned off. I am pushing 80 and some of you folks are surprised that I am still working. They often say, "Are YOU" still shooting? Mostly, I will simply say yes. Once in a while, when I sense their disrespect, I'd answer "Why the hell not- who are you, the retirement police"!

Fortunately, not all your folks are stupid, disrespectful, and prejudiced. There is a lot of talent out there and some young puppies are into learning from the old guys and gals. Sadly, the REVERSE ageism sets in, and the old guys perceive the juniors as a bunch of gearheads and overzealous technocrats or people with little or no ethics.

If any of y'all want a better mix of age groups and attract more participation, it's going to take some work to depend on some of those negative perceptions.

How many of y'all encourage younger members of your family or friends to take up or advance in photography? Has anyone worked with youth groups, camera clubs, or schools, or organized some community activities to promote photography?

If you want to encourage young folks to join this forum- how are they gonna find out about it if you don't introduce the concept and the FORUM itself?

Pause for a moment. Let's examine a hypothetical scenario. An enthusiastic and talented young person signs on to the forum and asks a rudimentary question or one that is kind of "old hat" here on the forum. There is a good chance he or she will be put off by some of the snot-singing that appears here from time to time. They are attacked by one of our local trolls whom we have become used to. First impressions count. If they come across some of the threads that "go South", if the rookie member does not practice ageism, they may take it up.

This ain't Facebook or Tick-Tock! We can, however, be "influencers" and get your folks interested in our art, craft, or perhaps profession. We just need a small percentage of their screen time!

Harry02 Loc: Gardena, CA

Kinda beat me too it.
We have cameras. Adjustment, procedures and methods dependent on what worked on older tech.
They have point-and-shoot iPhones,
We have pictures- actual photographs. They have ephemeral images sometimes shared.
I get looked at as an old spy type with my Nikon Ds. Not even noticed with an iPhone.
No one I know under 50 prints 8x10s. Or 5x7s, maybe occasional 4x6s.
If it wasn't for Instax most of my relatives wouldn't have anything to hold.

dustie Loc: Nose to the grindstone

In consideration of the points being presented in these comments:

Ask Admin for approval to open a new section?......
.......maybe call it "Decades"?.......
.......it could have some subsections -- e.g., 20-30 yrs; 30-40 yrs; 40-50 yrs, with selfie, grunge, landscape mode, situational unawareness, etc sub-subsections within each of those.......

juuUUUUSST KIIIDDing !!!!
🤭 🤭

Lost Again Loc: Middle of nowhere Oregon

I agree with you about this site. It does seem to be more of a shooting gallery of insults at times than advice or discussion.
I think there is hope for young photographers because I have met them in the field. I met a very creative young man at Capitol Reef N.P. awhile back. We were both shooting Temple of the Sun from Gypson Mound and we both swapped some god ideas. He showed me some shots he had taken earlier that day up on the hoodoos behind the temples. He had found two small hoodoos that looked identical to the Temple of the Sun and Moon and lined them up in the foreground with the real temples in the background. The shot was amazing. He showed me the spot he shot it from, but it was too difficult to climb with two hip replacements. i also met at the same area that day a young lady that wanted to be a professional photographer. I have met a lot of young people in the field that will carry the torch, I don't think there is a problem there. As far as them joining this site I don't know. I'm afraid too many of us elders have turned into the "stiffs" we use to avoid when we were young.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

I agree. Sadly.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

By UHH standards, yes, I would say so.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Were it up to me it would be OK if this were just going to be an old-timers club. But if that is to be the case, how about we relax, put up our feet, enjoy the time we have left, share some stories, have some fun, and stop bickering and bragging and badgering others? I always enjoyed this time of year on the farm. The old folks would sit around the stove drinking coffee and telling stories. Nothing wrong with that. This is a good time of life, no more pressure, nothing to prove, no race to win, no fame and fortune to chase. Let's chill out and enjoy it while we can.

I ran into an old friend on the trail in a preserve last summer, 95 years old, still hiking. He was the soil and conservation district agent for decades, a legend in farm country, and a pioneer conservationist. We sat on a bench and shared memories for about an hour. It started to get dark and he got up to leave, and I asked if he had a cell phone number or an email address. He just smiled at me and after a long pause said "it's time now to just live for the moment, my friend."

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Leading with an insult (...."Photography requires hard work and dedication. Those are traits not often associated with our younger generations.") is not a good start if we want to attract younger members to our hobby/profession. Perhaps they work hard at what they find interesting or have found other ways to meaure self work rather than how much of their nose skin the leave on the grindstone.

SnoShuSam Loc: Texas, (ex Virginian)

I'm 78 and just getting back into photography after a 20 year lapse.
Still using film but am thinking of going to digital. I'm a Canon A1 fan with two bodies and a few lenses and still love B&W. My favorite film was Kodak Accufine, 25ASA and extremely fine grain film. Of course that film is long gone, but I've got two rolls of 120 in my refridge. I think that there are more than a few who will aspire to our chosen hobby who will carry it on in the future. Phones and cameras will improve but only so much. There will be more than at least a few who will carry on and aspire to go where some on this forum have gone and will look for this forum.
PS - I so much miss Kodachrome!