Multi-Generation
Social Media is definitely a
byproduct of the younger population, often growing at a rapid rate because of
its staple in modern day communication. Being
that my mom is an “Older Baby Boomer” generation and I’m a “Y Generation”, one
would think they use of social media between the two of us would be rather
dramatic; however that simply isn’t the case.
Studies have shown that most “Baby Boomers” utilize email rather than
any other form of social media; that being said, far more of the older
population are starting to connect with friends and family through platforms
such as Facebook, than any other method of long distance communication. While the older generation indeed takes
advantage of the convenience of connecting with friends and family through
Facebook, they have only done so because of their children have exposed them to
that platform. Three other factors stand
out among the differences in the use of social media between my generation (Y
Generation) and my mother’s generation (Older Boomer).
Those apparent differences are:
1.
The Baby Boomer generation is less likely to
share as much information online as my generation.
2.
Their generation would rather perspective
employers read a small bit of info online and learn more in person.
3.
They are less likely to share pictures and
status updates, but like to see what others have going on in their lives.
The last point, of being reluctant
to share pictures or status updates, limits the two generations abilities to
effectively communicate. This issue is
similar to a one-way conversation, and lacks the ability to sustain an open
line of communication. My mother views
my Facebook page to keep up with my daily activities, accomplishments, concerns
and adventures. It’s the primary avenue
for her to view current pictures and remember moments in time that might
otherwise be difficult to remember the details. Below is a list of how each generation communicates and how they utilize social media.
That being said, one fabulous
trend that I have noticed is the use of online shopping among the older
generations. This factor is very similar
to the younger generations, and has become one of the most common similarities
between the two. One has to wonder why
that is, and one simple reason would be the convenience of having online
purchases delivered straight to their door.
In today’s society, shopping malls and retail villages have become the
way to shop locally. However, with that
comes a limitation for certain shoppers to get around, such as my mother who
has a difficult time walking for long distances and tires easily during a
single shopping trip. As more online
stores become available, it’s far easier for people to shop from the comfort of
their homes and have their purchases delivered to them.
Whether you’re a Y Generation or
Baby Boomer, a great % of members from each generation are utilizing some form
of social media on a daily basis. And
while each have their preferences of levels of activity, they all have a fairly
decent grasps of the advantages, disadvantages, and even dangers of using
social media and networking. Social
media is only going to progress further and become a larger staple in our
society; therefore, learning to communicate effectively using each one of those
platforms can help build relationships, rekindle old ones, and help family
members stay connected on a daily basis when they otherwise would be unable
to. Social media isn’t only for the
younger generations anymore, it’s becoming an effective way to communicate and
an important aspect of networking among all generations of our current
society.
Resources
Using social media to reach multiple generations can be a challenge, however, not as challenging as one may think. As society embraces social media, more and more of the population has begun to use social media of all kinds. The one complication that I have noticed, is their lack of offering information or even pictures from the older generations. They are far more likely to be selective of their information and what they share online. Even pictures that other family members post is a concern for them. Therefore, the main complication of using social media to reach the older generations would be their higher levels of privacy and concern for what is shared with others. However, it is my hope that as they each embrace social media, the less protective they are with sharing portions of their life with others online.
ReplyDeleteBaby boomers enjoy researching information, updates, and learning about upcoming events through the use of social media tools. They respond very well to videos and easy to access information that requires little feedback on their part. They are less likely to respond to surveys and questionnaires, and rarely interact on forums and discussion boards. Their primary mode of social media interaction is through their home computers, with a much smaller Baby Boomer population utilizing mobile devises to interact socially online. However, Gen Y’ers are far more interactive than Baby Boomers. They are far more likely to engage in an interactive forum such as a discussion board or an online survey, with a much higher percentage of their generation engaging in social media via their mobile devices such as iPhones, iPads, and other smartphones. Therefore, when reaching out to the Gen Y’ers, mobile apps can be a very successful way to get them engaged and involved in direct communication and involvement.
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