Abstract
The modern information society in which we live is highly technologically visualized and requires, in addition to the continued use of media technologies, one to be receptive and to maintain a positive perspective on any emerging innovation. This chapter outlines the technological and digital environment in relation to the latest three adult generational cohorts (i.e., 18 years old and older); Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z—XYZ Generations. Finally, the ultimate purpose of this chapter is to delineate the current identity and diversities of XYZ Generations from the growing convergence of media for a more meaningful, peaceful, and just society.
TopIntroduction
The categorization of generational cohorts nowadays can conveniently be called a historical neighborhood and as a characteristic paradigm of diversity (Nicolaou, 2023a, 2021b). According to the modern research literature of recent years (Nicolaou, 2021b; Nicolaou et al., 2021a, 2021b; Podara et al., 2022, 2019b), this categorization arose due to the domination of media technologies in our daily lives and a series of timeless global events that have taken place over the past decade (cf. Nicolaou et al., 2021a, 2021b; Podara et al., 2022, 2019b; Nicolaou & Kalliris, 2020; Nicolaou & Karypidou, 2021; Nicolaou & Matsiola, 2023). It is a fact that substantial and a more systematic investigation of generational cohorts by researchers, policymakers, and journalists admittedly began about three decades ago, when Generation Y (humans born from 1980 to 1994) started to grow up and come of age, trying to highlight the alleged and supposed generational gap between previous generational cohorts (cf. Howe & Strauss, 1992; McPherson, 2009; Keren et al., 2004; Giancola, 2006). Historically, this generational gap has already been first pointed out by sociologist Karl Mannheim in 1928 as fresh contacts, which would have a deeper impact on young humans in the future (Mannheim, 2007, 1970). To summarize, in our time, the respective members of the generational cohorts are also categorized into various generational identities (cf. Nicolaou, 2021b; Nicolaou et al., 2021a), usually as digital immigrants or digital natives (cf. Autry & Berge, 2011; Nicolaou, 2021b). Admittedly, these terms seem to have arisen in a sense from the Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace in 1996 (Barlow, 1996) due to the rise of the Internet from 1992 onwards, as well as the increased use of media technology mainly by younger humans (cf. Nicolaou, 2021b; Nicolaou et al., 2021a, 2021b; Podara, 2021); however, these terms have been further popularized since the 2000s by researcher–author Marc Prensky (Prensky, 2001a, 2001b).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cohort: A term that refers to a group of humans who share a defining characteristic or experienced a common event during a selected period of time, such as, for example, date of birth or graduation.
Digital Native: A term that refers to a person who grew up in the presence of digital technology or in the modern information society.
Digital Immigrant: A term that refers to a person born before 1974 or characterized as digital illiterate.
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs): An umbrella term which is defined as a diverse set of technological communication tools and resources used to transmit, store, create, share, or even exchange information in various fields and sciences.
Generation C (GenC): A term mainly used in the literature when one wants to refer mainly to active online users of the Internet.
Audiovisual Media Communications (AMCs): An umbrella term that includes all audiovisual media technologies (i.e., audiovisual media and communication technologies) and audiovisual content.
Social media: An umbrella term that refers to a list of old and new modern digital technologies which are growing day by day due to continuous digital technological advancements.
Millennials: A term that refers to humans who grew up in the early 21st century.
Zoomers: A term that refers to humans who were born in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Digital Learner: A term that refers to a person born from 2000 onwards.