Category: Transformations in Digital Cultures

Abstract: The term ‘hacking’ is a broad one, which is often associated with hacktivists, data leaks and computer criminals. However, when understanding the term in its broader definition, as “the process of solving an issue in a smart, possibly unexpected way” (Richterich, 2016: p. 22), it is not that negative. In this paper, an attempt is done to find out what interpretation Millennials, people born between 1980 and 2000, have of hacking. Do they look at it as a process of creativity and innovation that is socially acceptable? Or do they see hacking as a negative, criminal practice, that is dangerous for individuals and society? To answer these question, in this paper a qualitative interview is conducted, which is linked to a literature review on the interpretation of the term hacking.