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Tag Archive: Gen-X

Facebook Babies: A Generation Growing Up Online

Written on July 21, 2010 by Josip Petrusa

About two weeks ago, Mashable published an article based on a study by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research. The study points out the behavior of women on Facebook. And there’s more than a few interesting numbers to come out of this. 34% of women between the ages of 18-34 will check Facebook before doing anything else after they wake up; 21% will check it in the middle of the night; 79% are fine with putting up pictures of themselves kissing along with 42% putting up pictures of themselves intoxicated; and finally 39% consider themselves to be addicts.

Emerging Facebook Behavior

What’s interesting here is that 54% don’t trust Facebook with their private information and a clear majority of 89% say they would never put up anything they wouldn’t want their parents to see. It’s fascinating that the study points out behaviours on both sides of the spectrum. At one side, these women are clearly into the Facebook scene. However, in that same breath, they want to be private, to some degree, about what they share.

As we’ve all seen, Facebook privacy has become a serious issue. Governments have even rallied to oppose some of Facebook’s action. With all that being said, I’ve seen a growing trend on Facebook. And it’s one that has got me dumbfounded. One with more serious implications than any us can possibly comprehend – considering it’s never happened before. This trend is the emergence of Facebook Babies.

And I’m not talking about children being conceived because of Facebook or people starting their relationships on Facebook. That’s another story in itself. What I’m pointing out here is the drastic increase of individuals – and from my own observations, young Gen-X and older Gen-Y mothers – putting up pictures of their newborns on Facebook. If you’re experiencing deja-vu and flashbacks of Jim Carrey’s “The Truman Show” you’re not be alone.

Growing Up Online

Although “The Truman Show” is a movie based on chronicling the life of a man, which was made to be a reality-based TV show within the movie, these Facebook Babies will in essence experience the same thing. If these patterns hold true, these children will have their entire lives recorded on Facebook for the world to see. Can you even imagine your parents sharing everything about you growing up to people beyond those that were always around you? It’s mind-blowing to even think of the thought.

What’s even more interesting is that this goes back to my article of understanding the growing difference between sharing and connecting. I argue that the earlier half of the Millennials will be prone to sharing information online, more particularly those born in the early 1980s to early 1990s. When you take it one step further, these Facebook Babies are from parents, especially mothers, that are born in and around this time. As a result, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an entire generation literally grow-up online. Based on my numbers from my previous article, the study linked at the beginning and through observation, Facebook Babies will represent a generation starting in the years of 2008-2010 and one that might last to 2020-2024. Maybe even beyond.

Facebook Babies: A Generation of Firsts

We will watch an entire generation of firsts. First birthdays, first steps, first days of school and so on. Though privacy is a legitimate and serious issue, we’ve all lightly brushed that aside for what we presume to be a fair trade-off for use. The irony here is that the majority of us – Millennials and Gen-Y – would never want anything to do with our parents online, yet we are putting pictures up of our own young children. Not only is this ironic, the ramifications to this trend could be extremely severe. Something we’ll face only after it happens.

Unfortunately, we really won’t know the ramifications of any of this until time passes and these children grow up. In my opinion, this is a situation that is beyond serious and something that shouldn’t be taken lightly at all. No one really knows what this can lead to. It’s one thing to have photo albums in our house. However, it’s a completely different world and experience to be sharing those photo-albums with everyone else. Am I overstating the simple and harmless act of picture sharing? Possibly. Though, to some degree we already have serious issues with sharing pictures of children.

Like I stated above, imagine if your parents did this to you. After all, these Facebook Babies don’t know any better than to smile at the camera when you say “cheese.” They at least deserve the slightest protection and a safe environment. These Facebook Babies will always be smiling. Let’s not give them something to frown about when they grow up and realize what’s going on.

11 Simple but Amazing Millennial Insights… by a Millennial

Written on July 16, 2010 by Josip Petrusa

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Over the past 5 months and forty-something blog posts later, I find myself picking up on more than a few things. And since it’s Friday and since I’ve looking at my laptop screen way too much, I’ll keep this post short, simple but amazingly insightful.

Here are 11 amazing insights about Millennials, by a Millennial. And whether you agree or disagree, you can’t help but know they’re true.

We’ll never pay for social media. Don’t even suggest the thought. But we’ll spend thousands of dollars in our lifetime on mobile phones, smart phones, voice/data plans and apps.
Interrupting someone or cutting them off while they’re speaking is rude. Checking your BlackBerry and sending off a Facebook update, tweet, text, bbm or email in the same conversation is normal.
The “times are changing” and “things are different” are the two best excuses we ever came up with. They are also the two most immediate and difficult realities we face.
We won’t necessarily take any job for the sake of having work. But we’ll work for free in hopes of getting a job we would like.
We are always looking at three screens: mobile/smart phone screen, computer screen, TV screen.
The majority of us have invested too much time into one social network. As a result, the majority of us will only stay on one social network.
We resonate with a “you live once” ideal. With that, we will save money to buy the things – brands – we want in hopes of living our “dream-life”. We won’t save money for the things we need, liking preparing for the future – general savings accounts, retirement saving and planning, and the such.
We’ll connect, follow and “friend” complete strangers online. But we wouldn’t ever add our parents or uncles and aunts.
Prediction: everyone will watch the Facebook movie. Otherwise known as the “The Social Network”. A Twitter movie, Apple movie, Google movie and similar variations are simply a matter of time.
We’re influenced by the people we hangout with, talk to and connect with online. I still can’t grasp why the majority of advertisers and marketers haven’t picked up on this.
And I saved the best for last. The generational blame game. We’re seen as entitled, lazy and deserving. We see our elders as stubborn, not understanding and old-school minded. Imagine how better off we would all be if there was less whining and complaining but more accepting, opportunity and just getting that chance. Who am I kidding, I’m still pointing my finger at the Baby Boomers and Gen Xers.

But, isn’t that innovative? An idea to collaborate on both sides. But what do I know. I’m only a twentysomething Millennial. Just pay attention, many of these things are more obvious than you think. And these insights are more important than you think. You just haven’t realized it yet…

Mobility vs. Mobility

Written on June 17, 2010 by Josip Petrusa

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A few days ago, I read a great article by Carol Phillips by the title of “Millennials Are Not Romantic About Their Wheels”. She brought up more than a few points that ring true with Millennials. We aren’t crazed at all about having our own ride, well not getting one that quickly at least.

Although the passion for cars still exists, it clearly doesn’t exist on the same level that it existed in during previous generations with the Boomers and Gen-Xers. It seems that being free, mobile and in a sense, ‘doing what you like’ has taken on a new role. Previously, our ability to connect with other people relied on having a car. Now, our ability to connect with other people relies on a few clicks.

Mobility: Automotive vs. Communicative

Of course, I’m not suggesting that cars will go out of style. We’ll continue driving. The difference will be how much we drive and what we can do while we drive. It’s an issue of (auto-)mobility versus (comm-)mobility. And it’s an issue that has been created with Gen-Y. Something itself that is a result which has been produced from a variety of different reasons.

The increased price in automobiles, insurance and gas has delayed many Gen-Y from buy their own car. Not to mention that more than often Gen-Y parents will already have enough cars to support everyone, along with providing all other financial aspects towards insurance, maintenance and gas. So why would Gen-Y buy their own cars when the parents are already picking up the tab?

What’s interesting though is that there is a more unique aspect in Gen-Y’s disinterest in cars. It particularly has to do with driving. If you’re driving, you can’t really do much but drive. However if you take transit, now you have the ability to do pretty much anything. And with my Gen-Y mindset, I can do so much in that time. I can read, tweet, share, update, write and do anything a smart phone or iPad could offer, especially if I’m riding the train into the city from the suburbs. And even if I took city transit or walked, I could do more than I would be able to while driving. The safety factor and legal implications of driving while using a mobile device are not even worth the risk.

Why Drive?

This has caused driving to seem less glamorous, as you could be doing so much more with your time. My question is, why haven’t auto makers figured this out yet? As social media, BBM, #chats and a variety of other things expand and become natural aspects of life, no one really wants to be left out or miss something.

And I’m not trying to say that we should have the ability to do everything while driving, but there’s more than a few things that would be nice to have. Something that would simply be like tuning your radio. Something that would be safe to use while driving instead of fumbling around with my BlackBerry. Something giving me the opportunity to make up for “lost-time”. Something like Ford’s SYNC.

Millennials: The Multi-Taskers

Though I’m not plugging for Ford here, how can you not be impressed by the steps they’ve taken to improve things while making great cars. Ford’s SYNC is one of the best examples of a system that integrates your (smart) phone with your car, allowing you to seamlessly drive and do more. SYNC provides audible SMS and hands free calling along with entertainment and real time traffic features. But what about checking and replying to my emails, keeping up with my RSS feeds, accessing my Twitter account and everything else?

I can only imagine what some of you are thinking right now. Those that would love the idea, those that think I’m crazy and everyone else in between. The reality of the situation is that we are already quite capable of driving while having kids crying in our ear, sipping on our coffee and fighting about directions. Not to mention the countless other situations that came up before mobile technology ever existed. So yeah, we’re more than capable of listening to a system and answering back. It’s what Millennials do. We multi-task. Now imagine you can hear and respond to this post while driving. And add like 10 other things you could do on the way home. That’s 10 less things you have to do later. Ford knows this is only a matter of time. And I know SYNC is not too far from this. But where’s everyone else…