Boomers and Social Media

Two weeks ago I was involved in a dialog about boomers and their participation with social media. Available data indicated they had no interest and little involvement in social media. I suspected the data was outdated, and offered up this response (this is copied directly from an email, please pardon the composition):

"The research suggests that boomer use the internet for research and shopping but aren’t that into blogging or social media. That said, things are changing. If our target audience starts in the mid-40s they are on the front edge of having their customer change significantly, because 45 is where the numbers seems to turn. Also, the audience in their 60s and 70s  -- my parents are that age -- have really started to jump into social media over the last year. I think they are also probably experiencing more of a shift in who does the research about health, with more and more being done by women. Essentially there is a wave coming, that they may just think is high tide, but it is the front end of a tsunami.

Boomers use their children as guides in the beginning, and then heading off on their own with more confidence. I’m hearing lots of stories about people finding old friends and flames on Facebook, people they haven’t seen or talked to since the 50s (camp and high school) and 60s (college, dating, and the armed forces).

There is a core group boomer bloggers, I’m not sure how much of an audience they have, but there is enough to form a critical mass.

My take on boomers and social media is that social media is not generational in the way people think about it traditionally. It isn’t that the boomer generation doesn’t get social media and is not interested. What is happening with social media is that it hits each generation at a different time. It started with college kids. The spread out to tweens, teens, and 20-somethings. Then it hit 30-somethings. Right now it is ripping like a tidal wave through the 40 somethings. The 50 to 70 year-olds are starting to feel the impact, but there is no question it is going to hit them. Boomers have more time on their hands to get sucked into it, and they have that built in interest because of their interest in nostalgia.  Social media (Facebook and the bulletin boards people often visit when doing web-based research) lead you to other things, including blogging. Boomers may never become big bloggers themselves, but they do read blogs seeing them as any other kind of online content."

Now Forrester has released a study that backs that hunch up. The percentage of boomers ages 42 to 52 involved in social media increased from 46% to 67%. For boomers ages 53 to 63 it increased from 39% to 62%. The Forrester data supports the tsunami theory.

Comments

[Abigail Peche]

Not only have I seen an increase in my friend's mom, aunts and uncles "friend request" me on Facebook, but also 60+ augustinian friars are now using Facebook and blogging (which is a giant leap from just learning how to e-mail a year ago)

[Dianne Haynes]

I might gather to say, boomers have been busy being parents to their children, and not closed off in their rooms on the internet. I love reading about how people my age are not engaged on the internet until more recently. Oddly enough parents become free when their children go off to college, and some do become more computer oriented. I had to do research for computer projects back in my college days. The computers were large, and I did not have time to take more of those computer courses due to my time being spent in television reporting, running around with a camera man, and drawing story boards for commercials for the station. I have to admit it really "gets me" when I realize I am too old today for some jobs, but, hey, I realize I have too much knowledge and experience so, I joined linkedin, till I work again - it is a job in itself to post articles on social sites, and make comments for those who no one replys....it is kind of like interacting with a camera on air being a social blogger, and gaining a following. Maybe I am unique, but some of the boomers I know have been very successful with their blogs turning them into viable new jobs with spin offs including books, radio shows, etc. It is a new beginning for some to become more of who they are, in a creative entreprenurial environment at home.

[Dianne Haynes]

Here is a link in the aol news online for other social networking sites...just a few!

http://www.switched.com/2009/02/27/21-places-to-go-when-youre-sick-of-facebook

Remember the days before MySpace, Facebook, and the like, when online social networking was considered kind of odd? Now that everyone from kindergartners to grandmas have online profiles, these Web sites are officially part of our reality. Obviously, MySpace and Facebook aren't for everyone, so where can you go for your online mingling? As it turns out, there are Web communities that cater to almost every imaginable interest, from film to pets to knitting and so on. We've collected a whole world of options for those of you looking for a place want to meet people that are more like you, and not like the weirdos you'll find on Hoffspace. Click through to see our full list.