Access to modern, ground-breaking technology has never as
global as it is in this moment in time. Especially in developed countries, it
is commonplace – even expected – to own a smartphone, whereas the first iPhone
was released only a decade ago. The leaps and bounds this kind of technology
has taken has lead to an interesting phenomena, known as “cyberculture”. The
term originated back in 1963 by A.M. Hilton, who defined it as “that way of
life made possible when an entire process of production is carried out by
systems of machines monitored and controlled by one computer.” Today,
cyberculture more commonly denotes the online communities built around a common
interest or platform, and can also widely refer to the idea of automation and
“cyborgazition” of the human mind and body. This phenomena has led to much
criticism, especially by generations that did not spend their formative years
experiencing this kind of digital freedom. The rapidity at which this
technology has advanced in the last three decades is unlike any other
revolution that humanity has experienced. James Harkin, in Cyburbia, states that “The electronic information loop that its
prophets imagined would tie us all together has, to a large extent, now been
built.” This raises the question of where we are to go next with this ever
evolving technology. The cyberculture that has been created is mostly populated
by millennials and Generation Z, with today’s children consuming content
through tablets. While this raises a whole host of new problems, such as
children “being deliberately targeted with content which will traumatise and
disturb them, via networks which are extremely vulnerable to exactly this form
of abuse. (James Bridle, There is
something wrong on the internet), it has also given rise to new generations
that communicate and are a part of a cultural revolution akin to that of any
culture seen in the world today – complete with discourse, subcultures,
artistic influence and counter-culture.
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