Growing up among worlds – globally enabled childhood
Abstract of the presentation I am submitting for SIETAR Congress 2011 . Let me know what you think!
Title: Growing up among worlds – globally enabled childhood.
Originally a third culture kid (TCK) is someone who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents’ culture. Normally the TCK builds relationships to all the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into their life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of the same background, other third culture kids. This term and definition coined by Dr. Useem seemed exclusive to the children of expatriates and military personnel at the brink of the 21st century. 10 years later it applies to most children who have grew up using and exploring the Internet.
Through the widespread access to the Internet, generation-Y globally can be described as TCK 2.0 – an interconnected social network without cultural barriers and deep roots extending into each continent; an operational, developmental and strategic network of mutually related individuals working within the comforts of their bedrooms. The Internet has shifted the cultural paradigms amongst the millennials and changed each and every relationship from ‘6 degrees of separation’ to ‘Add as Friend’.
However, is the Internet a substitute for building relationships to all the societies, while not having full ownership in any, or is it merely an exploratory escape for established millennials with a sense of belonging? Has the Internet enabled the connected youth to create a single multidimensional e-culture or is there still a disparity between what is being built and a true global culture embraced by the indigenous TCKs?
