Virtual natives : how a new generation is revolutionizing the future of work, play, and culture / Catherine D. Henry and Leslie Shannon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Henry, Catherine D., author.

Shannon, Leslie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Virtual reality.

Telecommuting.

Generation Z.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 290 pages)

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, [2023]

Summary:

The eclipse of Digital Natives and the dawn of virtual culture--how Gen A, Z are radically redefining the future of work, play, economics, and social life. We're living through what is arguably one of the most exciting, confusing, and powerful social moments in the history of humanity, the shift from the Digital Age to the Virtual Age. This shift is being driven by technology, and the people who are leading it are the ones who know it best: the Virtual Natives, made up of Gen Alpha and Z. This book will introduce you to the Virtual Native cohort and mindset, decipher their socio-cultural and economic experiences, and unpack their expectations of companies looking to engage, market, or employ them. In this book, we explore: How Virtual Natives are deploying the new technologies driving the virtualized world How relationships and work habits are being virtualized Identify ten main Virtual Native-led behaviors that are upending work and culture How Virtual Natives are evolving their expertise into a full-blown economy This is nothing short of a cultural revolution. Virtual Natives are the driving force behind a seismic change that is redefining the world through technology and virtual worlds: this book tells you how they are navigating everything from AI to Augmented and virtual reality, gaming, blockchain and Web3 in easy, accessible language. To understand the future, read Virtual Natives.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Preface: Welcome to the Dawn of the Virtual Natives

Part 1 A Generation Unlike Any Other

Chapter 1 Virtual Is the New Digital

Finding Your Fam

The Road to Virtualization

The Essence of Virtualization

Chapter 2 What Is Reality, Anyway?

The Time and Space Discontinuum

Traveling with Your Mind

Everywhere and Anywhere

Doing Everything, and All At Once

Chapter 3 Fluid Identities

Skins, Brands, and Identity

Love Is Love

"I'm Whatever, and It's . . . Whatever"

Redefining Gender

Living the Dream

Metaverse Games

Chapter 4 Radical Acceptance

Shared Interests, More Than Shared Identities

First Love

For Fans, Virtual Is Real

AI Love You

Chapter 5 Putting on the "Rizz"

Stardom and Social Media

I'd Say Yes

Chapter 6 From Apprentice to Expert

Virtualization, Virtual Worlds, and Immersion

We're All Otakus Now

A Faustian Bargain?

But What About the Children?

From Apprentice to Master

Chapter 7 Create, Consume, and Own

From Hobbies to Full-time Hustle

Free Agents

Digital Goods, Real Incomes

Virtual Sweatshops?

Chapter 8 Autonomous Agents

No More Bullshit Jobs

Hustle Harder: The Birth of the Gig Economy

Okay, Boomer

Late-Stage Capitalism and the Revenge of the Precariat

Quiet Quitting and the Rise of Alternative Employment

Virtual Natives, Virtual Work

We're All Freelancers Now

Chapter 9 Send Pics

A Generational Shift

Virtual Search

Connecting Across the Generational Divide

Chapter 10 The First Cyborgs

"Tell Us About the New Digital Natives in Virtual Spaces"

Machines Are for Grinding

Learning, Development, and Artificial Intelligence

Can We Beat the Bot?

We're All Centaurs Now

Part 2 The Revolution Starts Here

Chapter 11 Meet the Degens.

The Fever Is Rising

Searching for Gold in El Dorado

Chapter 12 You're Not the Boss of Me

The Airline Puzzle

The Virtual Native Megaphone

The Age of Conspiracy

Fake News

Chapter 13 Love, Sex, and Algorithms

Are Dating Apps Designed to Fail Users?

How Are Relationships Different on Virtual Media Platforms?

Is Love a Game?

Fortnite and Flirt

Chapter 14 Web3 and the Culture

Whole Lotta Love

Do the Renegade

When the Default Is the Same Type

Economic Access Is Key

Chapter 15 Life Is Games

"Red Light, Green Light, One, Two, Three!"

Chapter 16 The Charismatics

If AI Invented Politicians

The Estonia Model

Changing Expectations: "I should be able to . . ."

Sparking Joy

Virtual Natives Have the Edge

Substance and Shine

Chapter 17 Main Character Energy

Working from Home: A Structural Shift

Greed Is Good and Closers Get Coffee

The Uniform Versus Uniqua

Valuing the Human Beyond the Resource

Rebuilding with the Employee at the Center

Chapter 18 Future Forward: Virtual Natives and the New Tech Landscape

The Future of Labor: Radical Self-Reliance

The Future of Education: Education as a Service

The Future of Collecting: "Show Me What You Own and I'll Tell You Who You Are"

The Future of Social Life: It's Global

The Future of Entertainment: Interactive and Revelatory

The Future of Money: Digitized and Accessible

We're All Natives Now

Epilogue: Invisible Architecture

An Enduring Miracle

The Digital Divide

Notes

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Index

EULA.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Other Format:

Print version: Henry, Catherine D. Virtual Natives

ISBN:

1-394-17136-6

1-394-17137-4

9781394171378

9781394171361

1394171374

1394171366