In June 1997, TIME magazine ran a cover story about Generation X – “Great Expectations of So-Called Slackers” where they attempted to enlighten Boomers and Matures about the benefits of Xers in the workplace and the world in general. The discussions that piece sparked with clients, colleagues and peers were the impetus for what is now Generational Insights. This week the folks at TIME are at it again with their cover story “The Me Me Me Generation” and its companion piece “Millennials: The Next Greatest Generation.” On the one hand, this feels a little like seeing dock siders and day-glow… Read More
Categories: GenerationsThe Millennials are the connected generation. Statistics show them to be early adopters and avid users and consumers of all kinds of communication technology including texting, social networking, email, blogging, smartphones, etc. Now, the Pew Center is asking how all of that “hyperconnectivity” will affect the generation’s personality. Pew surveyed over a thousand internet experts about the long term effect of hyperconnectivity on Millennials. 42% saw at least one significant downside: Millennials will be apt to make poorly informed decisions based on shallow or incorrect information the get from the internet or their connected peers. On the other hand, 55%… Read More
Categories: Downloadable MediaMarketers and advertisers have all the reading material on Millennials they could ever want, in the form of books, surveys, and market research. Now, a new unit of NBCUniversal called Curve Films has produced a film that documents Millennials’ outlook and position in the marketplace. The film, “Y Now,” is aimed at Madison Avenue, and distills research about Millennials into 22 minutes of interviews with 9 real live Millennials. Each interview segment is designed to represent a different stage or type of the Millennial generation from those just out of school to those who have started careers and families. It… Read More
Categories: Blog, Product DesignAs we’ve noted, Millennials have deferred or avoided major purchases such as cars and homes and turned away from the traditional retail, recording, video, and television businesses. They hunt for discounts, deals, freebies, and near-free (99¢) pricing. Now several commentators have suggested that technology has altered the generation’s approach to buying in an evolutionary way. For example, Millennials may avoid purchasing because they don’t have money, still live at home, and are concerned about the environment. Or, as a ZDNet columnist suggests, it could be that smartphones provide much of what cars used to: socialization, movies, shopping, even dating. Why… Read More
Categories: BlogBaby Boomers give the most positive online ratings, Gen Xers the most negative ones, and Millennials fall in the middle, according to a Bazaarvoice study of 6 million online opinions. A majority of all generations are now online and all participate in reviewing and rating products on web sites. In fact, 82% of all online reviews and ratings are positive, according to the study. Baby Boomers now make up the largest group of online reviewers at 45%. They are also the most likely to give the highest (5-star) ratings to products. Not surprisingly, Gen Xers tend to be the harshest critics… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, BlogMany in Generation X grew up in households with multiple TVs. They were the first generation to grow up with VCRs, DVDs, cable, and personal computers, as well. So it should come as no surprise that Gen Xers still lead the way when it comes to the consumption of video entertainment, whether it comes in the form of “old media” or “new media.” According to a study by eMarketer, Gen X is a generation of couch potatoes. They watch more TV than any other, a lifelong habit that the digital revolution has not discouraged. Now, Gen Xers also lead the… Read More
Categories: Downloadable MediaMillennials love free stuff. The Napster Generation is accustomed to getting a lot of what it wants for free online. And that attraction to freebies is proving to be boon among Millennials for loyalty and rewards programs that appeal to it. According to an Aimia survey, Millennials are more likely than other generations to take part in customer loyalty programs when there is a giveaway offered. In general, Millennials lag slightly behind other generations in participation in consumer loyalty programs. About 77% of Millennials report participating in some kind of loyalty program, slightly less than older generations. But when a… Read More
Categories: Advertising, Blog, Downloadable MediaMillennials make up the most diverse, and largest, generation in the United States and now the Census and recent studies show that more Millennials are Hispanic or Latino than any other generation and that the majority of Millennial Hispanics were born in the USA. The United States has about 50 million inhabitants that identify as Hispanic or Latino or about 16% of the population. Millennials are proportionately more Hispanic at about 21% meaning there are about 17 million Hispanic Millennials. A recent demographic analysis by MTV says that about 65% of them were born in the United States. In addition,… Read More
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