S’up G? This blog is fersure bangin’! If you’re a member of Gen Y, you understand perfectly what was just said (if not, I sincerely apologize). But actually, if you’re fazed by the opening sentence, that’s perfect, because today’s post is all about Generation Y’s online habits.
Alright, let’s start with the basics. Generation Y is the demographic that follows Generation X. It’s also the largest cohort since the baby boomers; many baby boomers are the parents of Gen Y (Social Marketing). Gen Y is made up of teens and young adults born roughly between 1980 and 2000.
As it currently stands, Generation Y is the highest educated demographic in history. In October 2008, “approximately 40% of adults aged 18-24 were enrolled in either a two- or four-year college” (The Echo Boom). There are approximately 80 million Gen Yers in the world –all of whom can be found online.
The Internet, it should be known, is directly linked into (pun!) Gen Y’s makeup. In fact, it can be argued that the online realm is Gen Y’s playground; the Internet is Gen Y’s definitive trait. “Gen-Y was raised on technology, so much so that our cell phones are extensions of our hands and text messaging, instant messaging and Facebooking are how we interact with others, even different generations” (Mashable).
This definition validates the fact that 93% of Gen Yers go online every day. This is a percentage that doesn’t even sound as significant as it should, because the Internet has become so much a part of its and our everyday life. Equally as staggering, 53% percent of Gen Y make up the total online blogglng community, and 75% have created at least one online profile (Rosetta Thurman).
Speaking of social media, have you heard about this Facebook dealy? 81% of Gen Y visits the social networking giant on a daily basis (The Next Web). Likewise, one in five Gen Yers have posted a video of themselves online – but that’s nothing compared to the rest of their online video intake; 42% are now watching their TV shows online; 28% their movies (Reel SEO).
And just how is Gen Y consuming their online media? Via their smartphones and mobile devices. For example, 41% of Gen Y use only a cell phone; 25% “use mobile devices as their primary means of accessing social media sites like Facebook and Twitter” (Reel SEO). Moreover, on average, Gen Yers send 2,273 text messages per month – that’s 75 texts per day! But that’s not all they’re using their mobiles for; 13% of Gen Y watch video on their mobile devices.
From these stats alone, it’s clear to see that Gen Y’s online presence is a force to be reckoned with. For all you affiliate marketers and merchants out there, this demographic is guaranteed to factor into your future strategies. With lives that are intertwined with social media, knowing Gen Y’s preferences will be the key to your future campaigns’ success.
To close out, we’ll leave you with a video – a YouTube video no less – that explores the role of online video in the lives of Gen Yers:
Next week, in Part II of this series, we will be looking in more detail at Gen Y’s online tendencies – cues that can also be used to target this massive demographic.
As always, we want to hear from you, so feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section!
- A Look at Gen Y’s Online Habits (Part II)
- Statistics Show Baby Boomers Have Spending Power Online
- Statistics Show Baby Boomers Have Spending Power Online
- Statistics Show Baby Boomers Have Spending Power Online
- A Mobile Marketing Explosion!
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