Generation C – Connected Consumers or COVID Community?
In our readings for this week, we read about the next generation. Following the well-known Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Generation Z we have Generation C. Uniquely though, and unlike other groups that came before, this group is not bound by a specific age. In fact, Generation C is defined by shared attitudes and aptitudes wherein individuals occupy a hybrid user and producer- or produser – role in relation to web content (Bruns, 2011). However, when looking more into this group dubbed Generation C, I found another Generation C group- the generation of COVID. This group includes not only those who had been born by 2016 and personally lived the pandemic, but also includes those born up until 2030 who will continue to be impacted by its aftermath.
I cannot help but draw similarities between this idea of a connected consumer and a COVID kid. In fact, because of COVID, we utilized technology in unprecedented ways and many of those changes are still in effect today. As our technology continues to advance and we grapple with the effects of the pandemic, we must remember just how unique this upcoming generation is. Much like the “Silent Generation” that followed the Great Depression, World War II, and the Spanish flu pandemic, this next generation will surely be remembered. I hope educators, supervisors, and law makers alike consider these unique experiences as we mold this future generation of produsers.
Meet Generation C: the COVID Generation
-SMT
This is a great connection, I love your spin on Generation C. I am not a Covid kid, but I am a Covid teacher and I can definitely agree that we used technology in unprecedented ways. In fact, I was having dinner with my son and two of his friends from the swim team last night. They started talking about how hard it was to practice during Covid and they were chuckling about the dryland workouts they did with the coach on Zoom using soup cans for weights. They were talking about the stories they are going to tell their kids about living through Covid times and how they are going to embellish those stories to make some good "Dadlore".
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