CHAPTER TWO:

EMERGING ADULTHOOD:

A remix generation in a digital world[i]

As in the chapter before, this chapter contains a series of items characterizing emerging adult life but this time specifically focused on the digital, remix, democratic and collaborative nature of the life style of twenty-something youths.

The influence of digitalized information currently available by means of a wide variety of computing devices is far more pervasive among emerging adults than among any other age group, with the possible exception of teenagers.  Emerging adults have whole-heartedly embraced all things digital and are in many ways the more tech savvy generation.  This is a major factor distinguishing them from previous generations. 

Their enthusiasm for all things digital is evident from their consumption habits.  More than any other age group they are in possession of all the necessary digital tools for surfing the net and texting their friends.  Typically they are also in hot pursuit of the latest digital communication gadgets such as iPhones and iPads offered on the market.  Their enthusiasm further shows in the way they respond to the computerized digital information that they access by means of these tools and gadgets.  They have by and large bought into the pull of this type of information and are allowing it to significantly influence the structure and the direction of their everyday lives.  In attempting to solve their problems of living they do not turn to books on science, philosophy, or religion for guidance, but to the net for advice.   They google their way through life.   They spend a large amount of their time surfing the net and texting their findings to one another.   They practically live in this virtual world. What may be the reason for this historically new phenomenon?

---

[i] Much of the material in this section is based on a book by Don Tapscott, who has written extensively on the impact of the information technology.

           

Tapscott, D. 2009 Grown Up Digital. Toronto: McGraw-Hill.

For more on the remix culture see:

http://p2pfoundation.net/Remix_Culture, which article on p.1, gives the following definition:

Remix culture describes the way in which youth culture today more visibly orients itself around creating media by extracting component pieces from other people’s media creations, then connecting them together to form something new….

(original source: http://www.lingualgamers.com/thesis)

Also see:

Heath J. & A. Potter 2004 The Rebel Sell. Toronto: Harper Perennial.

and

Coupland, D. 2007 Jpod. Toronto: Vintage Canada.