2 de dezembro de 2005

A GERAÇÃO QUE VIVE AQUI. Em Portugal e em português, sobre a emergência das comunidades online e da sua importância, só conheço o meu livro, , que no entanto aborda os assuntos mais na perspectiva de divulgação e de guia iniciático do que pelo estudo das comunidades. Mas em inglês e pelo mundo, estes assuntos são analisados a outras luzes.

A BusinessWeek dedicou-lhe a capa (também com emissão podcast). «Vivem online. Divertem-se online. O seu poder está a crescer». Agora, os media portugueses, tradicionais followers da imprensa americana, já podem falar disto.

Excertos de The MySpace Generation:

«Although networks are still in their infancy, experts think they’re already creating new forms of social behavior that blur the distinctions between online and real-world interactions. In fact, today’s young generation largely ignores the difference. Most adults see the Web as a supplement to their daily lives. They tap into information, buy books or send flowers, exchange apartments, or link up with others who share passions for dogs, say, or opera. But for the most part, their social lives remain rooted in the traditional phone call and face-to-face interaction.

The MySpace generation, by contrast, lives comfortably in both worlds at once. Increasingly, America’s middle- and upper-class youth use social networks as virtual community centers, a place to go and sit for a while (sometimes hours). While older folks come and go for a task, Adams and her social circle are just as likely to socialize online as off. This is partly a function of how much more comfortable young people are on the Web: Fully 87% of 12- to 17-year-olds use the Internet, vs. two-thirds of adults, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.»

Publicado em 2 de dezembro de 2005 às 16:56 na coleção Miscelânea