The migrant lives of the digital generation

Abstract

This study explores how young Korean migrants appropriate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Canada. Drawing on qualitative interview data, the study focuses on Korean ‘digital generation’ immigrants who grew up with the rapid development of the ICT industry in Korea. By addressing the specific demographic of young migrants who have already been saturated by digital media in their pre-migration childhood, the study explores how the young people’s memories of earlier digital media use are articulated with their adoption of newer media forms during the post-migration period.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. I would also like to thank Ms Song Yi Jeon for her research assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Cyworld (1999–2015), the social networking site operated by the Korean telecommunication corporation SK Communications, has been examined as a distinctive local SNS site, as it relies on unique information architecture while adopting metaphors of families and local space. For example, ‘friends’ who are networked through Cyworld are referred to as ‘ilchon’, which means a close family relationship (Choi 2006).