Media ecologist Jack Myers‘ latest book, Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, offers insights into the first generation to grow up with the Internet (born 1991-1995) and the positive impact they are likely to have on business, culture and society. And now, it is the recipient of the 2013 International Book Awards in the “Youth Issues” category. Hooked Up also was a finalist in the “Popular Culture” and “Women’s Issues” categories.

Related: Why TIME Is Wrong About the ‘Me, Me, Me’ Generation’ 

Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World (York House Press), gives readers a glimpse into the minds of Internet Natives – those born between 1991 and 1995. Myers interviewed 1,000 members of this demographic to gain insights into their politics, work ethic, religious views, and social mores. This generation is expected to save the world from the chaotic instability they have grown up with – whether it be in politics, education, the workforce, social issues, religion or media.

“I’m exceptionally honored to be the voice of the ‘Hooked Up Gen,’ this first generation of Internet Natives,” said Myers, who as chairman of Myers Media Business Network has been studying and reporting on media and culture for three decades. He serves as investor, adviser and director for a portfolio of digital media companies. “In the past year, my book has transformed perceptions of this next great generation and their future positive impact on companies, education, politics, religion and all aspects of culture and society. I’m especially honored that the International Book Awards have recognized Hooked Up as Best Book in the ‘Youth Issues’ category and finalist in ‘Women’s Issues’ and ‘Popular Culture’ categories.” 

Watch this video on understanding the “Hooked Up” generation & their focus

Congratulations to Jack Myers and “Hooked Up” for helping to shape the societal conversation about the Millennial generation, which is expected to change the world for the better.

A complete list of winners and finalists in each category can be found here

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I surveyed 1,000 Millennials born between 1991 and 1995 to gain insights into their politics, work ethic, religious views, and social mores. My book, Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, is not another Millennial tome. It is a cultural overview and informed guidebook that focuses on the first generation born into the Internet Age, which I call the “Hooked Up Generation” or “Internet Pioneers.” We need to focus in on Internet Natives as a new generation. They are nothing like the “Me Me Me Generation” of “lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents,” as Joel Stein describes in the Time article.

My research, which has been embraced by many educators and experts, confirms that Millennials are not a single cohort. Statistics show there are dramatic differences between those over and under 24, with exposure to the Internet throughout the lives of those under 24 being the defining difference. Internet Pioneers are anything but entitled, having grown up with economic collapse, social upheaval, war on terror and technological acceleration. Looking at research on the full cohort is like looking at one glass that is empty, another that is full and saying both glasses are half full. It’s just wrong.

Many of the younger Millennials are returning to their parents’ homes not only out of necessity, but by choice. This is the first generation in decades to have strong, positive relationships with their parents.

There are several points in the article that are accurate. The Next Great Generation (a term I coined more than a year ago), globalism, multiple jobs. But they are also the most socialized, the most accepting of equality, the most politically progressive, and the most likely to vote.

An organization that I founded, Women in Media Mentoring Initiative (WIMMI), recognizes the value Internet Pioneers bring to the workplace and society. WIMMI encourages younger members to identify the skills, experience and talents they can offer as mentors to their more experienced colleagues. My “Hooked Up Generation” research laid the groundwork for many of WIMMI’s founding principles.

What my research discovered about the fundamental nature of Internet Pioneers:

•  They are confidently empowered, but do not consider themselves to be entitled.

•  They are focused on themselves, but care deeply about their families and their friends, which is sometimes an imposing responsibility.

•  They have opinions and respect the opinions of others, and have little patience or tolerance for uninformed viewpoints.

•  They expect to be given the freedom and power to manage their lives, yet seek out and consider the advice of others.

•  They are perfectionists who strive to achieve, assuming they have the ability and potential.

• They question the rules but mostly live within them.

•  They accept and embrace diversity, not as an aspiration, but as an accepted reality.

Watch this video on understanding the “Hooked Up” generation & their focus

Here are some key findings from my book on the “Hooked Up” generation…

Chapter 4: Hooking Up – Relationships, Sex and Porn

Today’s students are more interested in getting into graduate school and scoring productive jobs. That is not to say that young women have completely cast off family life. They are simply postponing these aspirations for later.

Chapter 5: Third Wave of Women’s Rights Activism

Today’s college-age women are the third wave of women’s rights activism. They live in a post-feminist world, stuck between a rock — feminism’s second wave with its focus on equality through careers, education and achievement outside the home — and a hard place — today’s pressure to have it all. The goal is to achieve everything: career, modern lifestyle, family life, while still looking and behaving in a way that’s seen as traditionally sexy and feminine.

WATCH: ‘Lady Gaga Is the Embodiment of Feminism Today’

Chapter 11: Television Explains It All

Reality TV shows are not the Hooked Up Generation’s defining influence. It was Nickelodeon: “When Nickelodeon was launched in 1990, the network issued a Declaration of Kids’ Rights that, in many ways, serves as the mantra that Internet Pioneers grew up with and that defines how they perceive their rights and entitlements.” Here are ways Nickelodeon helped define their mindset and influence their future: 1.) They value their individualism while recognizing themselves as belonging to many groups. 2.) They welcome their parents’ involvement in their lives, but also expect privacy and autonomy. 3.) They consider themselves intellectual and social equals to older generations. 4.) They welcome surprises and both understand and use humor. 5.) Interactivity is expected. 6.) They like to have fun.

Chapter 20: Jobs and Careers

“The key to understanding Internet Pioneers’ attitudes toward big business and employment is to understand this generation’s definition of success. For Internet Pioneers, the definition of success is not simply accumulating wealth. In fact, some are actively hostile toward this definition. Many Internet Pioneers aren’t motivated by the same things as earlier generations were. Accumulating money isn’t enough to keep them focused on repetitive or non-challenging tasks or in jobs they find unfulfilling or ethically unrewarding.”

Related: Internet Generation to Forever Change Corporate America

“So what motivates this generation? They seek variety in responsibility, social engagement and collaboration, relevance, and knowledge that they are contributing to something larger than themselves or the business they work for.”

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Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, also the author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, talk about economic challenges facing today’s grads and what they are giving up to make sure they are successful in their careers:

WATCH: A ‘Restructuring of Education As We Know It’

In fact, the generation graduating today is the first since the Great Depression “that hasn’t felt they were entitled to earn more than their parents, to be more successful than their parents, to buy a house,” Myers said. “They understand how challenging and difficult it’s going to be for them going forward, so they’re very focused on their careers. …So they’re less focused on relationships – long-term relationships.”

“They’re focused on their future, they’re focused on building careers … getting internships, and getting jobs that will be meaningful and productive to them,” he added. “That means they’re setting aside long-term relationships for now.”

WATCH: Hooked Up Generation Redefines Family Values 

Women, in particular, Myers said, like the idea of having fun with people of the opposite sex, but they don’t want a guy “dragging them down” in their career so early in their lives.

“This is a generation that’s really focused in on long-term relationships later in life,” he said. “In that way, they’re an incredibly mature generation.”

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Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, talk about how the three big ways to become a YouTube star: 

WATCH: Tim O’Reilly – Is YouTube the New Hollywood? 

“Anyone under 20 today believes they can have their 15 minutes of fame, because it’s so readily available on YouTube,” Myers said.  ”It’s not just the Brittany Spears and the Paris Hiltons of the World … we’re seeing more and more of those celebrities coming up through Funny or Die (comedy video web site) or many of those other Web sites.

“The real opportunity is for anyone to be famous. Cats and 6-month-old kids are becoming famous on the Internet. The opportunity is there for those who want it. The question is, just how outrageous you have to be.”

WATCH: Privatized Social Networks the Next Big Thing?

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“Lady Gaga is the embodiment of feminism today,” Myers said. “We’re really entering a third wave of feminists period, led by today’s students, what I call the ‘hooked up generation.’” Watch Myers further explain characteristics of this “hooked up” generation and how Lady Gaga has influenced them: 

Read an excerpt from Hooked Up here

“She’s extremely feminist – she’s extremely into women’s rights, she’s very focused on empowering women and women’s rights and empowering their right to have their own self-identity, not attached to a man. And that’s really the embodiment of what we see today in colleges,” Myers said. “We see women very focused on their future, on their careers, but yet recognizing that men have a role in their lives.”

As for men, they are also embracing that women can be sexy and smart and sexual and serious. “Men are almost a little more into relationships than women today, and again, I think Lady Gaga is the personification of what women aspire to be while not being a Paris Hilton or Britney Spears or putting the sex first, forward,” Myers continued. “What Lady Gaga puts forward first is her feminism and her belief in herself and her own career and the power she has as a woman.”

WATCH: How Today’s ‘Hooked Up’ Generation Will Save the World 

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“For the past three decades, I’ve tracked the impact of emerging technologies on media, advertising and marketing,” Myers said. “As I peer into the next decade, it’s clear to me that gaming is one of the three most important and dynamic platforms (integrated with video and social), contributing to the complete transformation of the media and marketing industry.”

Myers will share insights from his research among young people on the emerging opportunities for game marketers and media. He will discuss the “Hooked Up Generation” – a subset of the Millennials – and how this group will transform gaming, entertainment, marketing, culture, politics, education and even technology itself.

“Growing pains are inevitable as Internet Generations integrate their native games into their culture,” Myers writes in Chapter 14 of his book. “Internet Pioneers are active gamers. They are also the most socialized and possibly the most well-adjusted generation in history.”

The session will also address the new strategies, perspectives and an understanding of the forces that have influenced and defined this generation.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity at GMS 2013 to share my vision for the future of gaming, based on my research among the young generation whose radically different media interests are the driving force behind the transformation,” Myers said.

The cornerstone theme for this year’s summit is “The Game as the Platform.” A watershed year for the game industry, 2013 promises new console launches, disruptive technology challenging the status-quo, ever increasing expansion with smartphones, and tablets attracting millions of new game players, according to the organizers of the Game Marketing Summit. But the question still remains: How do we effectively reach and engage players? Sessions of this year’s GMS will be geared toward best practices to effectively reach consumers, and will address the ever-changing marketplace with a wide range of topics including:

• Consoles As An Ad Platform
• Broadcasting Games and the Return of e-Sports
• Media Mix Evolution
• Marketing to Millennials
• Going Social or Viral with No Budget
• Free-to-Play and Discoverability

The Game Marketing Summit, formerly known as MI6, is a must-attend annual event for video game marketing professionals. GMS is a one-day event that brings together leading industry marketing and brand executives to discuss, deliberate, debate and celebrate the issues, opportunities and successes driving the interactive entertainment industry. The day culminates with the Game Marketing Awards Show, during which top creative work produced by and for the video game marketing community is showcased and honored. To register for the summit, visit the conference Web page: http://www.gamemarketingsummit.com

About Jack Myers

Jack Myers is a media ecologist and chairman of Myers Media Business Network, which owns publications, websites, research resources, and economic forecasting tools serving the media, advertising, marketing and entertainment communities. MMBN also has investments in a portfolio of more than three dozen digital media and entertainment companies.

His new book, Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, shares insights into the first generation to grow up with the Internet (born 1991-1995) and the positive impact they are likely to have on business, culture and society. His weekly video commentaries can be viewed at jackmyers.com.

He is an award-winning documentary film producer, author of four books and founder of the Women in Media Mentoring Initiative and Syracuse University Newhouse Network. Jack is the recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award, won the Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival, and has been nominated for both an Academy and Emmy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He is a partner in Morgan Spurlock’s Cinelan Group and co-produced the Focus Forward documentary series underwritten by GE. From 2003 to 2008 he headed Television Production Partners, an LA-based programming studio funded by ten major global marketers including General Motors, Coca-Cola, AT&T, MasterCard, Reebok and Campbell Soup Company.

Jack Myers Media Business Network publications include Jack Myers Media Business Report, MediaBizBloggers.com, Media Wall St Report, Jack Myers Video Report, Jack Myers Think Tank, Myers Advertising and Marketing Spending Forecasts and Myers Surveys of Advertising Executives.

Jack’s career includes sales and management positions at CBS Television, ABC Radio and Metromedia Outdoor. jFrom 1984 to 2008, he consulted on technology, industry trends and shifting revenue-models for more than 250 media companies, marketers and agencies. While in college, he co-founded the Syracuse New Times. Jack is a Board Member of the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. He served on the Advisory Board for the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University where he studied Media Ecology with Dr. Neil Postman.

About Game Marketing Summit

The Game Marketing Summit and Awards celebrates marketing excellence overall, while providing an all-inclusive forum for common thought, bond and community. For additional speaker information and details about the event, visit http://www.gamemarketingsummit.com

About IDG World Expo

IDG World Expo (http://www.idgworldexpo.com) is a leading producer of tradeshows and events for professionals and consumers seeking world-class education, strategic business relationships and access to industry-leading products and services. IDG World Expo’s portfolio of conferences and events includes Macworld / iWorld, the Mac IT Conference, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3),  Anime Expo, The Game Marketing Summit, Enterprise MobileNext (mNext) and Macworld Mobile. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world’s leading technology media , research and event company.

Media Contact for Jack Myers:                                                                 

Randi Zucker

Publicist, Jack Myers Media Business Network

917.710.0241

Randi@genconnect.com

Media Contacts for GMS:

Carol Lee | Marina Beck

Rogers & Cowan

310.854.8168 | 310.854.8192

clee@rogersandcowan.com

mbeck@rogersandcowan.com

Click here to watch video interviews with Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, on how the connected, “hooked up” generation is changing the world

There’s one generation that has literally been plugged in since birth. The so-called ‘hooked up generation,” born between 1991-1995, have literally grown up with the Internet and will likely have a positive impact on business, culture and society. Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, talk about how the ‘Hooked Up Generation’ will forever change corporate America, below: 

Related: 4 Ways to Beat Your Smartphone Addiction

Of his book, Myers says: “It’s the inside story of why this group of twenty-one million Americans may prove to be the greatest generation of the twenty-first century and why we can have hope for their future and ours.

“All the evidence suggests that they may just have what it takes to lead the world into a transcendental period of tolerance and peace.”

WATCH: Rachel Sklar, social entrepreneur and CNN technology contributor, talks about why she thinks today’s technologies offer more freedom than restrictions

The National Day of Unplugging is a 24 hour period – running from sunset to sunset – and starts on the first Friday in March. The project is an outgrowth of The Sabbath Manifesto, an adaption of our ancestors’ ritual of carving out one day per week to unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, and connect with loved ones. This project was created by members of the Reboot network. Founded in 2002, Reboot engages and inspires young cultural creatives, innovators and thought-leaders who generate projects that impact the world.

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Watch: ‘Lady Gaga Is the Embodiment of Feminism Today’ (VIDEO)

Myers, author of “Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World,” says it’s inaccurate to describe the attitude shift among college-age students as a breakdown of family values.

“There is an incredible respect for human values, family values, tradition,” he says. “But they’re very focused on the future as opposed to the past, and they’re very focused on recognizing the challenges that are ahead for them. So they are putting families off until they’re in their early 30s, late 20s.”

Spending time with family is actually the top driver of happiness for Millennials, of which the Hooked Up Generation is included, according to a just released study from Viacom.

In “The Next Normal: An Unprecedented Look at Millennials Worldwide,” researchers found that an emphasis on family is a global phenomenon among young people.

“Thanks to the importance Millennials place on family bonds, the family unit today is closer than ever,” Christian Kurz, vice president of Research & Insights at Viacom International Media Networks, said in a press release.

Watch: Dads Need Better Work-Life Balance, Too (VIDEO)

But that doesn’t mean the Hooked Up Generation views marriage and family in the same way their parents and grandparents have, Myers says.

“This is a generation that feels that gender is irrelevant in marriage,” he says. “They believe in individual rights because on the Internet it’s all individual rights, and that’s all they’ve really grown up, all they understand.”

Members of the Hooked Up Generation are also the first since the Great Depression that recognize they might not be as successful as their parents, he says. “They’re not necessarily going to buy their first house in their 20s … they’re not going to be able to afford to get married.”

WATCH: Internet Generation to Forever Change Corporate America

College-age students are working hard now so that they create a family-oriented future.

“The important thing is that they’re focused on building their careers, building their futures, establishing themselves, and then moving into families and relationships,” Myers says.

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Myers gave a Twitter thumbs up to the pairing of Judd Apatow comedy stars Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen for Samsung’s “Next Big Thing” campaign: “Loved the @samsung @Sethrogen Paul Rudd commercial. Still Rate Dodge Ram Paul Harvey spot #1.”

Myers was referring to the Dodge Ram truck commercial featuring the late Paul Harvey’s ode to the farmer taken straight from a 2011 ad created by Farms.com: “#WinAdsJM @Dodge Guts Glory Dodge I miss Paul Harvey. What a great commercial. Instant classic. Equal to last year’s Chrysler w/ Clint E” Watch the Dodge Ram interview below:

Myers had nothing but praise for Chrysler’s Jeep commercial that featured Oprah Winfrey narrating a patriotic salute to U.S. troops: “Perfect integration of @Jeep and @the_USO with Welcome Home #Veterans message. New Vets may be the glue that rebinds the nation,” he Tweeted.

Watch the Jeep commercial below:

Calling it “strangely compelling,” Myers predicted the Gangnam-style pistachios commercial will become the most played on YouTube.

Multi-platform integration was missing from the majority of the ads, he Tweeted. “#WinAdsJM http://www.CokeChase.com  is first online tie-in of the game. URLs have been invisible. Interactive connections non-existent.”

Myers gave a thumbs down to violence portrayed in a number of Super Bowl commercials: “More violence from @Oreo. Lots of #violence in the #commercials! Prefer @CocaCola Happiness, kissing and M&Ms” and “Need some @CocaCola #Happiness in that @VW Bug. It’s the battle bowl between happiness and violence.”

What were your favorite and least favorite commercials from Super Bowl XLVII? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

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genConnect sat down with creatives at GE and cinelan along with legendary filmmakers at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to discuss the collaboration and the importance of the competition.

Watch Jack Myers, Media Advisory Group Chairman and cinelan partner, discuss the premise of the competition below:

Jack Myers

Related: Jack Myers on How Internet Generation Will Forever Change Corporate America (VIDEO)

“GE basically underwrote thirty of the top documentary filmmakers in the world to produce their three minute passion story built around innovation and invention, and it’s been incredibly successful,” Myers told genConnect’s Randi Zucker. The criteria for the films submitted are that they must be three minutes in length and be focused on innovation and invention that’s contributing to the betterment of mankind, Myers continued.

Watch GE’s creative director Andrew Goldberg discuss the collaboration further and why GE was motivated to participate:

Related: Sundance’s Caroline Libresco on the Focus Forward Films Competition (VIDEO)

“There are some that when you watch it your jaw drops because it’s not just about how the story is told, but the story that is being told is so unique and different and something that the world would never know about had we not done this,” Goldberg said about the films in the competition. GE’s major goal has been to find unique stories that are really changing the world and having deep human impact, Goldberg said.

Watch Damon Smith, cinelan’s director of content strategy and acquisitions, discuss cinelan’s involvement in the Focus Forward initiative and the tremendous success they’ve experienced thus far:

“I think the idea for Focus Forward Films was something that was hatched among the partners at cinalan and brought to GE, actually at a TED conference when Morgan (Spurlock) was talking to someone from GE who was in the global marketing department and kind of pitched the idea,” Smith told genConnect. “They started talking and figured out that they might have some alignment there of interest and decided to create this series on innovation, which is something very dear to GE as a brand in terms of how they identify themselves, and also for us it felt like documentary could really give full expression to the idea of innovative people who are having an impact in the world and are creating positive change.”

Watch filmmaker and cinelan co-founder Morgan Spurlock discuss the culmination of Focus Forward and the future of digital distribution:

Morgan Spurlock

“The idea was that if you make them short enough, anybody will give you 3 minutes,” Spurlock said on the premise of Focus Forward. “What we found is that people would watch one, and then two, and then five, and then they’d share them. And so we kind of found this sweet spot of what we thought was a great way to get people into and interested in documentaries.”

Spurlock also believes that digital distribution is the wave of the future and that short films are a great way to connect with an audience very quickly and very succinctly, he said. “I think what we’ve proven through the GE Focus Forward initiative is there is an appetite for this. There’s an appetite for short form content that is engaging, that’s smart.”

Other legendary and award-winning filmmakers have shown their support for the initiative, as well. Watch veteran documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles discuss the initiative and share his advice for new filmmakers below:

“Just find an interesting subject at the right time and let it happen so the viewer actually feels like they’re there,” Maysles says to new documentary filmmakers. “So as you become friends with those people, people who see the film will become friends with otherwise strangers.”

At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, GE and cinelan announced that Rafel Duran Torrent (“Cyborg Foundation”) from Barcelona won the Grand Jury cash prize of $100,000 in its Focus Forward Filmmaker Competition. “I don’t even know how I feel right now,” Torrent told genConnect. “I’m happy and confused.”

Watch Rafel Duran Torrent speak with genConnect on his big win and what he plans to do with the money below:

FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas is a series of 30 three-minute nonfiction films, inspired by GE’s vision of innovative people being the catalyst for world change. Produced by leading documentary filmmakers, the films explore the incredible human power of ideas and invention and are screening at prestigious film festivals globally, followed by day-and-date distribution online to millions of viewers. FOCUS FORWARD films are distributed across cable and satellite VOD, gaming system networks, Internet Free On Demand services as well as in theaters and on DVD.

Visit www.FocusForwardFilms.com to watch all the films from the competition.

View even more film festival interviews with actors, directors, musicians and celebrities on genConnect’s Sundance Festival Playlist on YouTube.

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The president touched on a number of priorities for his second term: entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid for future generations, addressing climate change, gay rights, women’s rights and equal pay, immigration reform and gun control.

“Prosperity rests on the broad shoulders of a growing middle class,” Obama said.

Those progressive policies are what drove first-time voters to the polls in November, according to media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World.Myers predicted that Internet natives would come out to vote in big numbers and vote overwhelmingly for Democratic, progressive candidates. Did he get it right?

Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

Related: How Rugrats & Spongebob Influenced the Election

The theme of this year’s inaugural celebration was “faith in America’s future,” announced Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who served as master of ceremonies.

Musician/singer James Taylor played a folksy “America the Beautiful” and singers Kelly Clarkson (“My Country Tis of Thee”) and Beyonce (“National Anthem”) belted out the patriotic songs. Myrlie Evers-Williams delivered an inclusive convocation and Richard Blanco recited a moving poem that highlighted the American spirit.

The Rev. Dr. Luis Leon provided the benediction: “With your blessing we know that we can break down the walls that separate us.”

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Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, talk about how today’s Hooked Up generation is going to change education in this country:

The Internet itself is more than an invention or innovation; it is a transformational catalyst that is differentiating the 21st Century from all of history before it.

The list of technological advances that are already developed or in development could go on and on. Technological advances are a day-to-day reality with which Internet natives, the Hooked Up Generation, are growing up and which they not only to expect, but rely on.

Over the next two decades, new innovative tactics will evolve that truly exploit the potential of the Internet for all businesses, organizations, institutions, media, educators, politicians, religious leaders and families. It’s a direction that will be more social and interactive, more engaging, more emotional, and more focused on building connections.

Content  will travel from friend to friend as a part of recommendation engines, and will be organized, curated and shared in the same way YouTube videos or Pandora music discoveries are today. TED.com  has created the “Ads Worth Sharing” global initiative.  GE has launched its FocusForwardFilms.com initiative to underwrite and distribute the passion projects of both professional and amateur documentary filmmakers. Completely new and unimagined communities will evolve, altering the fundamental nature of relationships and communications.

To better understand the future, read my new book, Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World.

Watch Jack Myers Media Business Report Video

Transcript:

In my survey of today’s college students, the first generation to grow up with the Internet, I discovered how many of their ideas, perspectives, sensibilities and attitudes – including their voting decisions — can be tracked back to Nickelodeon. Nick programs dominate the shows they name as their favorites at age 12 or younger.

When Nickelodeon was launched in 1990, the network issued a Declaration of Kids’ Rights, the mantra the Hooked Up Generation grew up with and that defines their rights and entitlements. They have the right to be seen, heard and respected; to be treated with equality regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, personality, grades or size. They have the right to make mistakes without someone making them feel like a jerkhead and the right to be protected from harm, injustice and hatred. The right to an education that prepares them to run the world and the right to their opinions and feelings, even if others don’t agree with them.

On Nickelodeon, Linda’ Ellerbee’s news programs covered topics like AIDS  and the Gulf War. Game shows like Double Dare, cartoons like Spongebob, Doug and Rugrats, and live action shows like Clarissa Explains It All  and All That encouraged kids to try new things and supported them when they didn’t succeed, says Nick’s founding chairman Gerry Laybourne. Nick’s pre-school programming taught about cooperation, nurturing, friendships, how to deal with bullies. They were modeling good behavior and getting kids engaged, developing nicer and better citizens. These are the citizens who overwhelmingly voted for the re-election of president Obama and are making a significant contribution to the renewal of an engaged electorate. While Fox News may influence the generations that are quickly losing power, it’s the Rugrats generation who are now assuming power, and we are better off for it.

Internet Pioneers’ Favorite Shows from When They Were Age 12 and Younger

Source: Myers Survey of 1,000 Internet Pioneers born 1991-1995, conducted July 2011

1.   * Rugrats

2.   * Spongebob

3.     Pokemon

4.   * Hey Arnold

5.   * Doug

6.   * All That

* Nickelodeon programs

Jack Myers’ best-selling book, Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, a biography of today’s college students — the “Internet Pioneers” born 1991 to 1995 — who are the first generation to grow up with the Internet as an embedded part of their lives. Hooked Up is available in paperback and e-reader format at Amazon, BN.com and all booksellers. More knowledge at www.hookedupgen.com.

‘The Hispanic Community Came Out Big’

Republican losses are being partly to blame – not solely on Romney by any means – but on the party’s inability to attract non-white voters, and some of its stances on certain policy issues. In 2012 and 2012, voters who turned out on Election Day by race, were: white 72%, 74% in 2008; black 13% both in 2012 and 2008; Latino 10% in 2012 and 9% in 2008; and ‘other’ 5% both election years. Obama won 39% of white voters but 78% non-white voters in 2012; compared to 2008 when he got 43% of the white vote and 80% of the non-white vote.

Related: Obama Vows Bipartisanship, Romney Calls on GOP to Play Nice

“There’s no question that the Hispanic community came out big for President Obama,” Mayor Julian Castro, Democratic mayor of San Antonio, Texas whose twin brother Joaquin Castro on Tuesday won a U.S. House seat representing the 20th congressional district in Texas, said on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” Wednesday.

“But Hispanics are like everybody else in the United States,” Julian Castro continued. “They care about the economy, health care, education, but of course what it means is that we’re hopeful that the president and the Congress will take up the DREAM Act and take up comprehensive immigration reform sooner rather than later.”

Republican strategist Mike Murphy also acknowledged in a television interview Wednesday that his party needs to change drastically to make gains in future elections. “The biggest deal is demographic,” Murphy said. ” It’s getting colder and colder and you see it in the realists last night. The country’s changing and the people are party appeals to is a static group and that is a recipe for extinction.” The GOP needs to have a real, “adult conversation” about “our need to attract more people than grumpy old white guys” and about policy problems like immigration reform and gay marriage -two issues that alienate Hispanic and young voters, in particular, Murphy said.

‘Last Gasp of 20th-Century Politics?’

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Tuesday night noted that the GOP is getting “clobbered” when it comes to non-white voters.

“The story of this election is demographics. The Republican Party has not kept up with the changing face of America. That explains what’s going on in Florida, that explains what’s going on in Colorado, that explains, frankly, what’s going on in Virginia and North Carolina. It’s the growth of the Hispanic communities in various places.”

“All of them are becoming core demographic voters,” Todd added. “The Republican Party has some serious soul-searching to do.”

“This election personifies the cultural transformation of America, which will become increasingly transparent in future elections,” said genConnect expert and media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World. “This has been the last gasp of 20th-century politics and a clear message that a future defined by young, Hispanic, female, gay and black voters is here now.” 

Russell Muirhead, Associate Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth University, noted that “Hispanic” is a large term – it covers covers a large geography, and a wide variation of values, opinions, and interests.

“Unifying the Hispanic vote was one of the great achievements of the Republican Party in Election ’12 – great if you’re a Democrat,” Muirhead told genConnect Wednesday. “The Republicans managed it by virtue of their position on immigration and by their efforts (via voter ID laws) to suppress the vote. Each of these is a threat to Hispanics, and yesterday Hispanics responded.

“If the Republican Party leadership works with Democrats to craft a sensible immigration reform, they might manage to drain the immigration issue of its urgency. If at the same time, Republicans in state legislatures court Hispanic voters instead of making it more difficult for Hispanics to vote, they will discover that, like every group, Hispanics often disagree with each other. Some will vote Republican – vastly more, I suspect, that did so yesterday.”

Meanwhile, young voters also had higher turnout in 2012 than in 2008.

On Election Day 2012, 19% of voters who cast their ballots were under the age of 30, compared to 18% in 2008. Those voters ages 65 and over this year were 16% – the same percentage of turnout this voting group had in 2008.

WATCH: Internet Generation to Forever Change Corporate America

Myers predicted before the election that college-age voters, in particular, would have a big influence on this year’s election – an influence that would favor Obama and Democrats. He says that the increasing influence of this voting bloc could help strengthen the moderate center.

“The Hooked Up Gen will be more likely to vote for those who connect effectively on a one-to-one basis, who are honest and sincere in their opinions, are the least extreme, and who prove open and accepting of those with whom they don’t agree,” Myers said. “There will continue to be polarization on most social and foreign policy issues, but if today’s college students are a window to the future, the weight of the population will swing toward more progressive and moderate views.”

Exit polls also showed that when it came to women voters, Obama built an 11 percentage-point advantage to 55%- 1 percentage point less than four years ago.

Historic Gains for Women  

Women were also the big winners on Election Day 2012. The U.S. Senate broke a gender-related record; the 113th Congress will have more senators than ever in history – 19.

Related: PunditMom Joanne Bamberger – ‘I’m Putting My Faith in Women Voters’ 

Elizabeth Warren became the first U.S. senator for Massachusetts, beating Republican incumbent Scott Brown, while Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill benefitted from blowback suffered from Republican challenger Todd Akin, after his controversial comments about “legitimate rape.”

“You did what they thought was impossible,” Warren, a Harvard Professor, told a crowd during her victory speech Tuesday night. “You took on powerful Wall Street banks and you let them know you wanted a senator to fight for the Middle Class all of the time.”

Related: 10 Things to Know ABout Elizabeth Warren 

EMILY’s List congratulated all of the female candidates the organization supported.

“Elizabeth Warren is a progressive champion who has dedicated her career to fighting for middle class families,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “This election provided a clear choice between leaders like Warren who want to level the playing field for women and families by expanding economic opportunity, and Republican extremists who would roll back the clock by denying women access to reproductive healthcare and equal pay. …Leaders like Elizabeth Warren will help us end the Republican Party’s extreme, right-wing agenda by supporting policies that benefit women and families.”

Meanwhile, New Hampshire made history Tuesday when it elected the country’s first all-women delegation. Voters chose Democrat Maggie Hassan as their governor – Hassan will be the only female Democratic governor in 2013 – and new Democratic House Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Ann McLane Kuster will join U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D, and Kelly Ayotte, R, in Congress.

“We have a long tradition in New Hampshire of electing women,” not only at the federal level, but at the state and local levels, as well, Hassan said Wednesday in a television interview. “Women have been participants in the political process here for a long time. …We think it’s just great to have everybody participating in the process.”

Related: Contraception and Health Care – What It Costs Us

Other women winners last night include:

Senate: 

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, beat former Bush administration official and Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson to become the first woman to represent her state in the U.S. Senate. Baldwin is also the first openly gay senator.

Republican Deb Fischer, a Nebraska state senator, beat former two-term Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey for an open seat.

Mari Hirono became the first Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, as well as the first woman to represent Hawaii in that chamber.

Incumbent female senators who won re-election are: Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif,; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; and Maria Cantwell, D-WA.

House: 

Rep.-elect Tammy Duckworth thanks voters Wednesday

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat, Illinois’ eighth district; she will be one of the first female combat veterans to serve in Congress. The former Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs lost both of her legs from injuries sustained while serving in combat in Iraq.

Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat, Hawaii’s second congressional district; she will be one of the first female combat veterans in office, as the first Hindu to serve in Congress

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With more than 20 million first-time voters saying they will go to the polls this year on Election Day, political candidates on the federal, state and local levels can’t afford to ignore this potentially vital voting bloc.

Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, discuss the vital role these voters will play in this year’s election:

WATCH: ‘Lady Gaga Is the Embodiment of Feminism Today’

“Unlike past generations where we thought young people weren’t motivated, weren’t going to vote, this group is going to vote,” Myers said. “In fact, only 10 percent of them, according to our research, say they do not plan on voting. So not only will they be voting this year but they plan on voting in future elections. They’re going to have an enormous influence on politics.”

About 70 percent of those 20 million first-time voters will tend to vote for the more progressive candidates, Myers continued – President Obama on the national scene and progressive candidate in local and state elections, as well.

WATCH: ‘It’s a Big Moment’ for Voter Registration 

“I believe they could mean the difference between winning and losing for both President Obama and for many Democratic candidates,” Myers added.

These voters are also very focused on issues, not just the candidates themselves. Women’s right, diversity, and human rights are among the many issues important to them. ”Because they’ve been on the Internet their whole lives – their whole lives – they’re much more aware of issues,” Myers said. “They’re much more involved. They’re not out on the streets marching, but they’re marching online and they’re focusing online and they’re voicing their opinions online.”

WATCH: Romney Can ‘Help Take Our Country Back,’ With Fred Malek 

He added: “I believe that this ‘Hooked Up Generation,’ as I call them, are going to be the single most important group in this election.”

Follow Hooked Up on Twitter and Facebook

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Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, discuss the vital role these voters will play in this year’s election:

WATCH: ‘Lady Gaga Is the Embodiment of Feminism Today’

“Unlike past generations where we thought young people weren’t motivated, weren’t going to vote, this group is going to vote,” Myers said. “In fact, only 10 percent of them, according to our research, say they do not plan on voting. So not only will they be voting this year but they plan on voting in future elections. They’re going to have an enormous influence on politics.”

About 70 percent of those 20 million first-time voters will tend to vote for the more progressive candidates, Myers continued – President Obama on the national scene and progressive candidate in local and state elections, as well.

WATCH: ‘It’s a Big Moment’ for Voter Registration 

“I believe they could mean the difference between winning and losing for both President Obama and for many Democratic candidates,” Myers added.

These voters are also very focused on issues, not just the candidates themselves. Women’s right, diversity, and human rights are among the many issues important to them. ”Because they’ve been on the Internet their whole lives – their whole lives – they’re much more aware of issues,” Myers said. “They’re much more involved. They’re not out on the streets marching, but they’re marching online and they’re focusing online and they’re voicing their opinions online.”

WATCH: Romney Can ‘Help Take Our Country Back,’ With Fred Malek 

He added: “I believe that this ‘Hooked Up Generation,’ as I call them, are going to be the single most important group in this election.”

• For more daily expert updates, follow genConnect on Twitter and Facebook.
• To stay on top of the latest contributions from experts: Sign Up for genConnect.

Watch media ecologist Jack Myers, author of Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World, discuss how the Internet generation will forever change the corporate boardroom:

WATCH: First-Time Voters to Have ‘Enormous Influence,’ With Jack Myers

“The first generation to grow up with the Internet – who I call the ‘hooked up generation’ – is graduating college beginning this year and entering the workforce,” Myers said. “The fact that they’ve grown up on the Internet really changes they way they look at organizational models and organizational structures. On the Internet, there is no structure. It’s collaboration, it’s integration – as opposed to most organizations, corporations and institutions, which, for decades, centuries … have been hierarchical, structured, highly structured.”

The upcoming generation also has less a fear of authority and more a feeling of equality and acceptance of growing diversity – feelings that will permeate through workspaces. Women’s right will also be an enormous factor with this generation – “glass ceilings will be shattered,” Myers said.

More from Jack Myers: ‘Lady Gaga Is the Embodiment of Feminism Today’

Young people entering organizations and corporations will also have as much to offer more experienced executives in terms of the latest and greatest ideas and innovations, social media and ways to break down the hierarchical structure on the Internet.

Myers added: “It’s going to be a fascinating dynamic over the next decade as these young people who grew up with the Internet enter the workforce.”

Click here to read an excerpt from Myers’ book, Hooked Up

Follow Jack Myers on Twitter @hookedupgen and Facebook , and visit HookedUpGen.com

Chapter 7: The Hidden Messages of Harry Potter

The world of Harry Potter is fictional, but readers would be justified in arguing that Rowling’s work has a strong socialist edge and religious overtones.

In the book series, the author uses characters such as Harry’s guardian family to depict a middle-class, modern world. Harry’s family is weak and mean-spirited; wealthy characters are greedy and villainous. In the movie series, visuals like neighborhoods with hundreds of identical houses reinforce the idea of mindless conformity.

The implication is that this invented world reflects the values of today’s real world.

By contrast, however, Harry’s life at Hogwarts (a boarding school for young wizards) is a world based on competitive assessment, capitalist values and advancement through merit and hard work. Two beloved Hogwarts characters — Fred and George Weasely — open a successful business together in the sixth book. Central characters like Dumbledore and Potter are wealthy, but they live modestly.

Among the most popular book series ever published, J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter has fans in every age bracket. Internet Pioneers grew up with “Pottermania” and are now in college, with those who first read “Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone” at age 11 now graduating and joining the workforce. In short, most Internet Pioneers are intimately familiar with the Harry Potter books and movies, and many have had their psyches and values at least partially influenced by this series.

To date, no major research has been conducted to find out how powerful the effect of these themes has been on the development of the “Harry Potter Generation.” Much like the influence of rock music, Dungeons and Dragons or ubiquitous television, what research has been conducted is largely inconclusive — it’s simply too difficult to eliminate all independent variables from such an event.

However, the 60s generation engaged in social activism while reading works such as Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, “On the Road” and “Lord of the Rings.” This may suggest that certain popular books read during formative years have a strong influence on decisions made by the readers as young adults. So it is with the children who grew up reading Harry Potter. They are beginning to show tendencies that align with the values of the novels — but it remains to be seen whether they have those values because of the series, or if the series owes its popularity to the prevalence of those values.

Progressive Politics and Sexual Attitudes
In a 2005 Time Magazine article, Lev Grossman pointed out that the Hogwarts school is a progressive bastion: secular, multicultural, multiracial and gender-integrated. Some students and staff mourn this state of affairs, but they are the villains of the series — or at least the unfortunate products of a bigoted or otherwise backward upbringing.

In a 2005 article, Benjamin Barton of the University of Tennessee points out another potential influence — the author’s portrayal of the wizardry governmental authority (the Ministry of Magic) as a rigid, ineffectual bureaucracy incapable of protecting its subjects from any meaningful threat.

One example of the series’ progressive stance appears in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” with the introduction of an enslaved race of “house elves.” Heroine Hermione Granger tries to improve the elves’ lives through grassroots activism. This activity demonstrates her moral superiority and fairness of mind, rather than portraying her as an adolescent with a knee-jerk reaction to harsh realities. (Among others, John Rose of metrosantacruz.com, has drawn historical parallels between Hermione’s mission and that of the American Communist Party.)

Perhaps the most famous — and controversial — progressive stance in the Harry Potter universe never appeared in the books. Rather, in a post-release conference for the final installment, Rowling announced that the character of Harry Potter’s caring mentor (Albus Dumbledore) was gay. Casting a major heroic character as homosexual might be another subtle influence in Internet Pioneers’ generally accepting attitudes toward homosexuality.

From the first book in the series, Harry Potter and his friends consistently break rules and attempt to solve adult problems out of a mistrust of adult capability, intelligence and motivation. Though this behavior may be common in children’s literature, the Harry Potter series, especially in later installments, takes youthful rebellion to an arguably anarchistic extreme.

Religious Criticism
Though some Christian organizations have attacked the author for her handling of controversial issues, such as a positive portrayal of witchcraft and homosexuality, other reviewers draw a strong parallel between Harry’s story and that of Jesus Christ. In the final volume, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, the link is particularly strong. (Harry dies, spends a brief time in the afterlife, and then returns to earth after conquering death itself.) In a 2007 interview, Rowling said that the Christian allegories had always been part of her plan for the series.

However, fans and critics note that Rowling also drew inspiration from non-Christian tradition. The resulting blend is a weave of different influences that strengthens the inclusive nature of the series. Some see the Harry Potter series and its overt portrayal of magic and celebration of pagan mythology as a threat to Christian values. This is much like the protests against the Dungeons and Dragons game and “Lord of the Rings” in earlier decades.

Some church leaders from mainstream religions (Catholic, Islam, American Protestant) have asked church members to avoid reading the books. These leaders claim that the books actively encourage children to experiment with the occult. In the United States, several schools have banned or challenged the value of the book. In addition, an inside White House source claims that Rowling has never been recognized for enthusing millions of young readers specifically because of the concerns mentioned above.

No legitimate source believes the hysterical fringe reports of sinister, subliminal, or intentionally hidden messages within the Harry Potter novels and movies. However — like much fiction — the books communicate an underlying philosophy that has influenced many young readers who came simply for the story. Whether or not that philosophy could be called “sinister” depends on how it is interpreted.

Nevertheless, such attitudes toward the iconic influences of Internet Pioneers lead them to distance themselves from traditional institutions. Instead, Pioneers depend more on their own opinions and role models. As Internet Pioneers form their own religious and political standards, the influences of Harry Potter, Nickelodeon, Pretty Little Liars and Family Guy will be stronger than the establishment standards of religion, politics or schools.

Racism, War and Corruption
Rowling has publicly stated on multiple book tours that she wanted to incorporate many horrors of the real world into the world of Harry Potter. (Rowling formerly worked for Amnesty International, resulting in her awareness of such horrors.) Thus, the characters and — vicariously — the readers are exposed to these darker parts of human nature.
From the start of the series, racism, class discrimination and abuse of power provide a backdrop to Harry’s adventures.

The death and suffering of war take center stage by volume four of the series. As the power of character Lord Voldemort and his “Death Eaters” escalates, their policies become eerily similar to those of Nazi Germany and other cultures that engaged in ethnic cleansing. The young heroes of the series react with horror and grief as they try to prevent or minimize the effects of such evil. Their confrontations serve as a vehicle for an exploration of morality and rules in an unjust society.

Harry Potter and the “Occupy” Movement
“For the greater good” is a quote right out of Dumbledore’s journals about his exploration of dark wizardry — and a quote from the journals of many real life utilitarians. As a powerful and politically influential wizard, Dumbledore’s crimes include involuntary manslaughter, assault, high treason, endangering minors, smuggling and blackmail — and those are just the infractions that he admits to.

Harry and his friends behave in a similar vein. In the first book, they use aggressive magic to temporarily paralyze a friend. Rule-breaking becomes law-breaking early in the series. By the sixth book, Harry is using “unforgivable curses” — magic spells so terrible that their use can be punished with execution. Still, Harry and the other heroes are never punished or even asked to account for their choices. Generally, the responsible adults simply wave away their behaviors as understandable given the circumstances.

The contemporary “Occupy” and “Anonymous” movements are strongly in line with themes of social equality, socialist political ideals, a utilitarian definition of just action and a mistrust of authority and institutional structures. They ignore the lines of state and nation, focusing instead on human issues many members consider larger than any individual culture or group. In short, these movements share much of their core values with the values espoused in the Harry Potter series. Heroes Hermione, Ron and Harry would fit right in at an “Occupy” encampment. Other characters like Fred and George would proudly hack large corporations to expose their dirty laundry and embrace the WikiLeaks philosophy.

Future Tech Imagined
One way in which the Harry Potter books are almost certain to impact the near future is in the directions taken by technology. The Internet owes some of its existence to the imagination of science fiction writers. Much of our space program is indebted to Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury for the inspiration that launched its ongoing success. Steven Spielberg’s films A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report share visions that are becoming increasingly realistic.

Author and futurist Ray Kurzweil wrote in “The Singularity is Near” that the types of magic seen in the Harry Potter series will be everyday sights within the next few decades. He didn’t mean actual occult magic, but rather the technological capabilities of a rapidly developing human race. As Kurzweil points out, technology that could simulate magic will be part of daily lives within a few short years — and Internet Pioneers inspired by the Harry Potter series will be the young scientists who bring those technologies forward.

Medical nanotechnology will allow healing that looks and feels like magic both in terms of its capacity and its time frame. As cloning and genetic technologies advance, it’s difficult to rule out any possibility. The influence of Harry Potter is likely to emerge in every aspect of society.

Although it’s hard to quantify exactly how much J.K. Rowling’s world-changing series will affect the personalities, politics and morality of young people today, it’s almost impossible to argue that it hasn’t already. As this cohort grows older and initiates change in the world, the inspiration and influence of these popular novels will continue to be evident.

“It’s the inside story of why this group of twenty-one million Americans may prove to be the greatest generation of the twenty-first century and why we can have hope for their future and ours,” Myers said. “All the evidence suggests that they may just have what it takes to lead the world into a transcendental period of tolerance and peace.”

What people are saying about the book:

“An absorbing, disturbing and ultimately indispensable account of a hugely misunderstood demographic group that will shape our future.” ~ Ken Burns, Filmmaker

“A must read for educators, parents and all those who care about the next generation of leaders.” ~ Lorraine Branham, Dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University

“The Hooked Up Generation offers hope for the future of our planet.” ~ Mary Brabeck, Dean of the Steinhardt School, New York University

Click here to read an excerpt from the book.

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