In researching a new presentation on the next generation of digital media users — now dubbed Generation Z (Goodness Gracious!) — it became apparent that the generational discussion fails to hit the truth. The era should not be defined by generations, but more simply the ever-present factual reality of being online.

Forcing online behavior into a box — albeit the millenial or X or Z one — doesn’t seem to make sense. Go to any tweet-up and you will see members from multiple generations ignoring their fellows as they pour their brains into a ubiquitously present iPhone (Transparent screen image by Edan).

Gartner recognized this when it dubbed the generational phenomena Generation V. I have become a believer in this description, in particular the three main characteristics of Generation V, originally proposed by Adam Sarner, a principal analyst at Gartner (Forbes):

1) We don’t necessarily get the underpinnings of technology, it’s just what we use. I see this increasingly throughout my work and personal life. People don’t get technology or software coding, it’s just gotten easy enough that almost any person can use it.

2) Overwhelming desire to participate in online communities, more importantly, global communities. This occurs through user generated personae that so many of us have embraced. New media content creation enables interaction and avatars, but most importantly, true two-way interaction.

3) Meritocratic environment: Collaboration, “we” is more powerful and valuable than “me,” yet me seems to be pretty important to recognize.

This last phrase was added by me, as we continue to deal with the rise of Internet fame and parasocial behavior. The reality of this particular matter seems to be that while there’s a collaborative spirit to online conversational media, there’s also a pretty strong self centered part to it, too. Me is important, and if others aren’t recognized for their participation they seem to leave the conversation pretty quickly.

When your digital persona is so integrated into your life, online and “reality” blur. They form a common reality. Thus it seems to me that much of the persona we see in digital media demonstrates a truer glimpse into the fragile, beautiful and oft self-absorbed soul. That is why relationships have become paramount in social media marketing. People feel a need to be recognized.

Friday’s Buzz Bin post will discuss the impact of generational demographic studies on corporate social media.