Generations and Social Media

This post highlights how Generation Baby Boomers, X, Y and Z view and live their life with Social Media and Internet in particular and Technology in general.

Baby Boomers Generation

Born: 1946-1964

Baby boomers are people born during the demographic post-wrold war II bay boom. Narcissism and a focus on self-help and skepticism over media and institutions is representative of attitudes of this group.

However,  according to the Social Media Revolution 2014 [1] the fastest growing segment on Facebook (social media) is 55-65 year-old females. About 40 percent of Baby Boomers are on a social media [2].

Generation X

Born: 1966-1976

Coming of Age: 1988-1994

Gen X, sometimes referred to the ‘lost’ generation, are group of people who are without ever turning on the news or tuning into the social issues around them. It is believe that almost every Gen X are on social media. Young adults in Gen X are likely to connect with friends, family and co-workers online as they are in person [3].




Generation Y


Born: 1977-1994

Coming of Age: 1998-2006

William J Schroer [4] reports that Gen Y members are much more racially and ethnically diverse and they are much more segmented as an audience aided by the rapid expansion in Cable TV channels, satellite radio, the Internet, hi5, etc.

Gen Y are less brand loyal and the speed of the Internet has led the Gen Y to be flexible and changing in life  style and how they communicate with each other.

However, unlike their younger generation (Gen Z), they will have tough time keeping up with today’s ever changing technology-driven world.

Generation Z


Born: 1995-2012

Coming of Age: 2013-2020

While we don’t know much about Gen Z, we do know a lot about the environment they are growing up in. Gen Zers are the first generation who never have experienced the pre-internet world. They grow up with a highly sophisticated media and computerised environment.

Therefore, they are technology-focused, more Internet savvy and expert than their Gen Y  siblings. Jane Holroyd [5] calls them the iPad generation.  The way they communicate with each other and their life style will be completely different to Gen Y.

Generation Y and Z consider email passé [3]; some universities have stopped distributing email accounts.

Reference:

[1]   Qualman, Erik (2011), The Social Media Revolution 2014. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUeL3n7fDs.

[2]  http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/study-baby-boomers-love-social-networks-too-104133

[3] Miller, J.D (2013), Social Capital: Networking in Generation X. The Generation X Report.

[4] http://www.socialmarketing.org/newsletter/features/generation3.htm

[5] http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/talkin-bout-my-label-20110720-1ho7s.html