Know thy consumer – X, Y and Z!

Breaking News! Great post from Emarketer that makes this post that much more useful! How the old, the young and everyone use Social Networks.

Born dates do vary… but they’re close enough.

Generation Z | Generation I | Digital Natives | born 1992 – 2008 | Oldest member is 16

• Lifelong use of technology.

•Accustomed single parent, same sex families.

•First generation where technology embraced with their parents for the 1st time.

•Information overload – filters are hepa-fine.

•Given economic decay, tend to be less self entitled in contrast to older siblings of Gen Y.

Great insight can also be found here… http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/weekinreview/08zernike.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all – compliments of @DrJohnDrozdal

Generation Y | Millennials | Peter Pan Generation | Born 1980 – 1991

• Shaped by events, leaders and technology.

• Peer oriented. Seek instant gratification.

• Peter Pan Generation – notorious for pushing off adult hood – live at home into their late 20’s and early 30’s.

• Stronger relationship with parents, consulting them on average 1.5x a day.

• Making a difference is a strong motivational force.

• Constant communication is table stakes even in the workplace.

• Resist the 9 to 5 bricks and mortar workplace. Instead opt for virtual offices and flex hours.

For a proper overview on Gen Y, check out @Carol_Phillips http://www.MillennialMarketing.com  - that’s two ‘N’s in Millennial people!

Great read here on Gen Y from Gary Hamel! http://www.connectioneconomy.com/2009/03/25/gary-hamel-on-generation-y/

And another great resource for profiling Gen Y! http://www.slideshare.net/DRTRUPTI/i-m-gen-y

Generation X | Born in 1962 – 1979

• Reactive or nomadic generation.

• Grunge, hip hop and alternative rock.

• Strongly influenced by MTV, small families, AIDS and higher education.

• Marrying later in life – early to mid thirties.

•48 million Gen Xers sandwiched between 80m Baby Boomers and 78m Gen Yers.

•Gen X icons: Quentin Terrantino, Jon Stewart.

•Gen X triumphs: Google, YouTube, Amazon

•Feeling the pressure to become more engaged w/ Social Media for fear of being left behind.

Baby Boomers | born 1946 – 1964

•Brash, confident and the product of a prosperous society.

•Brand switchers, argumentative know it alls.

•Won’t be retiring at 65. 65 is the new 50!

•Boomers resent being referred to as Luddites – they’re keeping up virtually and taking to the blogs to prove it.

•Barack Obama trail blazed the way for SoMe resulting in more than 60% considered avid users of Social Media. Up 20% from 2008.

•Biggest contributors to the Entrepreneurship boom scheduled to happen end 09 early ’10.

And finally… Forrester has a fantastic chart that summarizes the social technographics of each demographic.