So the culmination of the research that I am conducting as a ‘social analyst’ and that goes into the depths of what I have tentatively termed as ‘new social media’ is beginning to come to together. By new social media I mean Web 2.0 and all it has to offer, as well as the various technologies and appendages that are used to access these applications and platforms. Predominantly this is a realm is characterised by those individuals that have strong ties to, immersion within and attachment to technology.
The main ‘sticking points’ of the moment is the terminology that is needed to describe the most technologically savvy of the generation of young people (born in the 1980s) that I am dealing with – those who are the first to have ‘grown up’ with digital technology. I intend to deal with only those that are the most technologically immersed (and savvy) of this generation (Generation-i) and need a label to differentiate this group of people within the ‘generation’.
So far up for suggestion has been: the Elites, techno-crowd, technoarti’s, mediarati’s, Facebookers (too technologically deterministic), e-chavs (hahaha) and so on…
This has caused a bit of a rethink in terms of the ‘who’ these young people are, that needs a ‘name’ or ‘label’ as a way to refer to them. I’m aware that by blogging provides an opportune moment to gain some insights into the possible social dimensions of these young people, as well as what on earth to call them! Chances are that You reading this, are one ‘them’!
SO I’m asking ‘what’s in a name?’, to gain some insights, comments or suggestions from what You may perceive to be the defining dimension(s) and/or label for these technologically immersed and youth orientated individuals. They’re not ‘geeks’ nor ‘nerds’ as they do not consider themselves to be particular ‘geeky’ or ‘nerdy’. So any proposals and/or speculations are most welcome! This is Web 2.0 after all, where debate and the peer-to-peer pushing of information is exactly what this ‘world’ is about! Until that is we reach Web 5.0 that is and these things will ‘write’ themselves!
image: www.flmnh.ufl.edu
About Dr Mariann Hardey
I hold the position of Lecturer in Social Media Marketing at Durham Business School. I also spend too much time enjoying social technologies, media+ stuff. That'll make me a Geek then. And a gal.
Web | More Posts (80)
