Generation Y and Social Media’s Impact
Social Media has emerged in many cases as the new way to do business around the world. Some make a living in this sphere and some just don’t get it. From generation to generation, the definition of social media differs, but its implications on the Generation Y or the “Internet Generation” are a bit more subtle.
Let’s take a look at key technological characteristics of Generation Y:
- 97% own a computer
- 94% own a cell phone
- 76% use Instant Messaging.
- 15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week
- 34% use websites as their primary source of news
- 28% own a blog and 44% read blogs
- 49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing
- 75% of college students have a Facebook account [21]
- 60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod.
Generation Y spends a majority of their time using technology and social media together to explore, learn, and communicate with others. Technology is key, but social media adds the extra dimension that extends way beyond turning on a computer or an ipod standalone player.
Yet, has social media made things too easy for Generation Y? Has social media negatively impacted society?
Social Media has made things EASIER and READILY available, but some fear content and information will be taken for granted. Easier to find and readily available information sure does make living in today’s world quite easy, but is this a good thing?
Below is a list of “negative” impacts Social Media has created. Yet, don’t take this personally, these impacts are just another companies’ opportunities for success:
- With a surplus of information, the “valuables” will be lost
- Finding information is too easy, but finding factual and credible information is harder than ever
- Traditional mediums for finding info (searching through a library’s reserve or scholarly reports) is taken for granted. What would happen if the internet was shut down? Does this generation have the know-how to find information?
- Desire/Ability/Benefits of creating unique content is hindered with the ease of plagiarism and/or the surplus of information on the web
- Frankly, the majority of today’s social media tools take up a lot of time that can be spent doing other things (homework, job searches, individual research, or extra curricular activities)
This is not a report to put down social media in any way. By all means, its here to stay. But, before matters get worse, technology and social media must work together to prevent Generation Y from being too dependent on online tools.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
[…] eBiz Tomorrow by Chris Salazar wrote an interesting post today on Generation Y and Social Media’s ImpactHere’s a quick excerpt75% of college students have a Facebook account [21]… […]
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
[…] eBiz Tomorrow by Chris Salazar wrote an interesting post today on Generation Y and Social Media’s ImpactHere’s a quick excerpt Technology is key, but social media adds the extra dimension that extends way beyond turning on a computer or an ipod standalone player….60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod…. […]
April 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
[…] theurbanhermit wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSocial Media has emerged in many cases as the new way to do business around the world. Some make a living in this sphere and some just don’t get it. From generation to generation, the definition of social media differs, … […]
April 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
[…] theurbanhermit wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSocial Media has emerged in many cases as the new way to do business around the world. Some make a living in this sphere and some just don’t get it. From generation to generation, the definition of social media differs, … […]