Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Net Generation has arrived!..." (more)
Key Phrases: generation lap, community computing centers, youth radicalization, United States, New York, Allison Ellis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don Tapscott, author of The Digital Economy, turns his attention to the way young people--surrounded by high-tech toys and tools from birth--will likely affect the future. In Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation, Tapscott parlays some 300 interviews into predictions on how today's 2- to 22-year-olds might reshape society. His observations about this enormously influential population, which will total 88 million in North America alone by the year 2000, range from the kind of employees they may eventually be to how they could be reached by marketers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Following right behind the Boomers are their children, the Baby Boom Echo, or Net Generation (N-Gen). This population is nearly 90 million strong and is the first generation to grow up surrounded by digital media. Tapscott (The Digital Economy, LJ 11/15/96) interviewed 300 N-Geners who participate in online chat groups such as FreeZone to identify the characteristics and learning styles of this already influential segment of society. Anticipating that over 40 percent of U.S. households will be on the net by the year 2000, Tapscott predicts how the N-Geners, many of whom are already expert net users, will be the catalyst for change in education, recreation, commerce, the workplace, the family, and government. His immediate advice is to listen to our children because we can learn from them. Recommended for all libraries.?Laverna Saunders, Salem State Coll. Lib., Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill (June 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071347984
• ISBN-13: 978-0071347983
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,795 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation, September 26, 2000

By	Sandi Ford (Pepperdine GSEP Doctoral Student) - See all my reviews

In this book, Don Tapscott discusses the differences between the baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) and the "Net Generation" (those born between 1977 and 1997). In Growing up Digital, Tapscott reminds us that boomers consists of 85 million people in the United States and Canada and then informs us that the Net Generation now encompasses 88 million people. So not only are these kids more technologically savvy than the rest of us, they outnumber us also. Tapscott states, "To them the digital technology is no more intimidating than a VCR or toaster. For the first time in history, children are more comfortable, knowledgeable and literate than their parents about an innovation central to society." With this in mind, it is probably a good thing I read this book.

Interestingly, I have two teenage children who fit into the category of Net Generation kids, but who do not have as much in common with the kids described in the book as Tapscott would lead you to believe. The children I know in this age-group are computer literate, do have cyber-dates, are quite capable of multi-tasking, completing research via the net, and ordering products on-line. However, that is where the similarity ends.

Tapscott describes a world where children work for pay creating web sites; expect to be included in the decision-making of major purchases with their parents, (because the children have been able to download the product research that their parents could not), and speak at conferences on the use of technology. I believe there are many instances in the book where Tapscott suggests a behavior that appears more precocious than intelligent. Even given this, the book is very interesting, but at times reads more like science fiction. This is especially true when Tapscott talks about a "cyber Niki" running around the web searching for the best buys or when he gives an example of being able to order his bread from the Stone Mill bakery with just the ingredients he wants. At times, it is hard to tell whether this is currently available via the web or, if it is all part of a future vision.

Because much of the information for this book came from a chat room for teens and pre-teens called "FreeZone" it tends to preclude those children of the same age who are not growing up digital or, who have limited access to this medium. Moreover, if this is so, are we any wiser to the behaviors and thought processes of the majority of American children? I am not so sure. According to Mr. Tapscott we are. He states that, "This book is based on the belief that we can learn much about a whole generation which is in the process of embracing the new media from the children who are most advanced in their adoption of this technology." Maybe he is right, because the information gleaned from this particular group of kids is rather enlightening.

In the book, Tapscott discusses the different ways N-Gens learn, play and work. Supposedly, this group prefers interactive entertainment (video games and web surfing) to passive entertainment (television). In fact, Tapscott estimates that by the year 2000 children will be watching 100 hours less television per year than they were in 1997. Based on discussions with the kids in FreeZone, it appears that N-Gen children prefer to play video games, and spend time on the web because they can control what they see rather than having content pushed at them. Tapscott believes that this is actually good, not bad, as many would have us believe. This is probably true, because in order to navigate the web, you must be able to read and write. In the chapter on N-Gen learning, Tapscott discusses that these children will want to learn in an interactive mode rather than a broadcast mode. One- way to do this would be for these children to discover information on their own via the web instead of listening to lectures. And, when it comes to the work environment, watch out, "Just like the boomers in Michael Dell's company who are perceived as losers if they aren't media-savvy and new-enterprise-comfortable, boomers in the new economy will be left behind as the N-Gen tsunami rolls into the workforce. The message: boomers, get going and learn from the children." According to this, the workplace of the future will be highly technical and if we are not prepared, the N-Gens will leave us behind.

With so many kids already working in technology fields, how should colleges and universities prepare? Well one thing is certain, as long as kids feel the need to go to college to advance within an organization we are okay. The following quote from an 18 year old makes this perfectly clear. He states: "Right now the Internet department is doing some shuffling and I could easily become a full-time employee. My boss loves me and she knows I am more than capable for the help line, but without some kind of college degree I would not go far in the organization. I hope to return in four years." Let us all keep them thinking this way and maybe we can keep our jobs.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent book and feel it may be helpful for many who are dealing with or may soon be dealing with these kids, especially the techno-savvy ones.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Few interesting Points for Parenting and Teaching, January 16, 2000

By	EKnox "[e-mail]" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation (Hardcover)

Don Tapscott's " Growing Up Digital" starts out as a compelling look into how children growing up in interactive rather than passive medium will change society. However, in order to make his point he resorts to making adults sound slightly stupid and his own child sounding like a mini genius. The major points he makes in his book are good but take too long to develop and are then stated repeatedly. (I got it the first time!) He does manage to help change the perception that many kids are going in Hell in a handbasket, and at the same time makes the point that using the Internet is a positive activity. I am glad that I read the book , but do not plan on picking it up again.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on the Net Generation, March 22, 2000

By	Brenda Reiley (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

Growing Up Digital, is an intellectually stimulating book, that explains the rise of the Net Generation in comparison to the baby boomers. Don Tapscott designed this book to give the reader a real representation of how the Net Generation feels about technological advances. He was able to compare a generation that has grown up with the television, to a generation who is surrounded by this digital technology.

In today's society, children are greatly affected by the Internet and other digital technology. Tapscott goes to great lengths illustrating how this technology plays a role in their daily lives. These children that have access to the information highway are developing socially, intellectually, and cognitively much more rapidly than previous generations. They are being exposed to a communication link that is instant and cheap. For instance, a child can download homework that he/she missed from school or chat with a pen pal from Japan.

Tapscott explained that these web users are not "couch potatoes" but rather interacting with others. Tapscott not only informs the reader about the web users interactions, but also the way in which these "N-Geners" think and communicate with one another.

Don Tapscott has created some intriguing insights, which allow the reader to see the reality of the Net Generation and their advantages socially and intellectually over previous generations. Tapscott leads his readers into the compelling depths of the interactive world. I would definately recommend this book to individuals who are interested in the children of our society today.