Calling All Net Gen’R’s!
If you were born between 1975 and 1994, this blog is for you. You are officially part of the Net Generation (also known as the "Y" generation) and now make up the largest generation on earth.
However us Baby Boomers aren’t going away so quickly (born between 1946 and 1964). I do feel for the X’ers’. Their generation doesn’t even span 20 years and they are in the middle of the abyss.
Baby Boomers had it great growing up. The only electronic thing that we had to play with was the Magic 8 Ball. Otherwise, it was bikes, marbles, firecrackers, mini-bikes, jawbreakers and Gilligan’s Island. Entertainment was returning beer bottles from construction sites for a nickel and getting a candy bar. Speed was about how fast we could take our 20" Stingray bike down the hill with the cards flapping in the spokes.
Communication was fun too. Walkie-talkies were so cool. But the real fun was when we were in high school and got our own phone line because our mother’s were always on the phone. It was fun using the rotary dial at first, but when the push button phone (Princess model) came out, we could crank out the numbers like nothing else. Of course our parents had to teach how to use the phones and then allow us time to use them. But hey, we were listening to albums and cassettes by the Birds and the Beatles.
The Net Generation is the first generation to grow up in the digital era. They play with Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Google like they breathe air. They teach us Boomers how to use technology. We use cell phones to make calls, they use cell phones for everything but to make calls.
We use the Internet to learn, they use the Internet to collaborate. Blogs are written while they listen to i-Tune downloads and perhaps even while playing an online game. The Net Generation loves speed, instant responses, and freedom.
Being in business 25 years this August, we have been dealing with Boomers and X’ers for most of our existence. But now the Y is where the action is. Does the Y love catalogs like their predecessors? I’m not sure.
Boomers love to use the phone to call. Hence our contact center is perfect for them. But what about the Y’s? They love to text and learn about products through social networks. If you are part of the Y, which social network do you like most? Companies are doing Facebook and Twitter. Are these fads or trends? Or is there something else out there?
We all must stay relevant or doom is assured. The Net Generation will sway where we are headed.
Happy Wednesday!
May 27th, 2009 at 10:16 am
It’s so true; I use my phone for everything but calling. Who cares about minutes? It’s all about data plans.
I grew up playing video games, and those games have helped shape how my generation is motivated. I played a level, worked at a goal, and was instantly rewarded with flashing lights and “Congratulations!”, and then immediately moved to the next level and goal. I was dazzled by graphics, and always wanted the game that looked to coolest.
This shaped individuals who value goals that move along quickly, with fast rewards. They get stuck at a “level” and focus intently on getting past it, just for the satisfaction. Imagery and technological “one-uping”is extremely important. The third version of the iPhone is unveiled next month, and my life has no meaning until i have it.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Not only are we the largest generation on earth, but as Barack Obama said: Gen Y is unequivocally the most important, high-performing civic-minded generation in the history of the world (we may also be the most high-maintenance). Yet, in order to tap our full potential, the current mindset of a 1950’s workforce must change. The most important benefit to the Gen Y is flexibility, the ability to work where we want, when we want, how we want. It’s not that we’re lazy or don’t want to work hard, it’s that we want balance in our life. And we know the best way to a strong work-life balance is to work when and where we’re most productive, be it 3am at home or 8pm at Starbucks.
To answer your question, though, Facebook is the ultimate tool. To Gen Y, it’s the best way to communicate with friends. To the Boomers, it’s the best way to exploit and monetize Gen Y. Either way, it’s here to stay.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I def like Facebook the best…I have a ton of co-workers and customers on my page as friends. It takes just a minute to sign on, post a status update or inbox a message. It’s like a super quick email minus the spam mail. LOVE IT! =)
May 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Don’t feel too bad for us Gen Xers…… We’re old enough to have experienced the tail end of what the Boomers were doing and young enough to take advantage of the Gen Y offerings that we find useful.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
My father was born in 1942. I remember him telling me stories and me just listening in awe at all the things he had to say. Movies were just 10 cents, and you had to go back the following week just to see the conclusion of the “chapter stories”. Candy was only a penny, and on the weekends you were a nobody if you weren’t hanging out downtown Flint (Scary thought now). Times were simple then.
Then I think of when I was in high school just 10 years ago (yikes!) Pagers were the way to connect, and cassete singles were hot. CD’s were just coming into play, which thinking about it now, i wouldn’t know what to do with a cassete tape. AOL was the thing of that day, and chat rooms were where you would connect with friends.
Today, Twittering, Facebook-ing, myspace-ing, texting, etc.. is what is to not be without. I can only imagine what new innovative things my 9 and 4 year old sons will be teaching me in 10 years!
May 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
There is software in the works that allows your thoughts to control the computer.
May 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Part of the Y gen…. I still don’t know what twitter is!? LOL I just got into Myspace and then was told that thats not in anymore so I switched over to face book and just now am starting to get the hang of it! still confused. My husband decided that it was time we got Iphones, and I also about a year ago just started up with the ipods…. I might have been born with the Y gen… but im a little slow… lol
May 28th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Salon owners and stylists and some reps have taken advatange of phones and the luxury that they can bring! I have client’s who send emails via “Blackberry”. They type in there orders and they come straight to me. If anything is out of stock, I email them with what items and then they respond. Also tasks! Anything you need done right away, via phone you can type it in and hit send! (as Daniel said be it 3am or 8pm… convenience to do business where ever, whenever is how we want to work)
I am from the Y Generation and I am a person who needs immediacy, I don’t linger, I like to hit “send” and look for my response.
As far as Facebook goes, It is a way to pass the newest Buzz along! And communicate who is where and what is happening next.