Generation of content-producers? : The reading and media production practices of young adults

This paper investigates how changes in reading habits and recent developments in computer-mediated communication manifest themselves in the user-generated content production of Finnish young adults. We use the concepts of ‘collective intelligence’ and ‘participatory culture’ as the basis for producing empirical research for the discussion of the idea of ‘active audiences’ in the age of online media. We explore whether there is collective intelligence and participation in our respondents’ own media production and ascertain what media forms they favour. The most common modes of content creation are connected to writing and commenting on blogs and discussion forums, but several other types of media production also show up in our data, such as publishing photos and drawings, transmitting links and content, and writing fan-fiction. However, our study reveals that most of the reading practices of young adults are rather passive or banal everyday media use rather than manifestations of collective intelligence or participatory culture. Then again, the creative user-generated activities are more common in certain recreational communities such as fan clubs.Peer reviewe