What is the TEXT GENeration?
This age group is made up of teens and young adults who use advanced technology multiple times a day to communicate, work and learn. They frequently use some or all of the following:
- Social Networking - 75% have a Facebook account
- Text Messaging - 94% own a cell phone
- Instant Messaging - 76% use instant messaging
- Blogs - 44% read and 28% write blogs
- mp3 Players - 60% own an mp3 player
- peer to peer file sharing - 49% download music via file sharing
- SOURCE: Reynol Junco and Jeanna Mastrodicasa Connecting to the Net.Generation: What higher education professionals need to know about today’s students, NASPA; First edition (March 29, 2007)
Before now, terminology for this age group has been so diverse (called Y or Z Generation, Internet Generation, Millenials, etc.) that it was very confusing as to who is who. A coworker of mine coined the phrase TEXT GENeration and it has stuck at our marketing firm. It is more fitting than all the other naming terminology because it incorporates the word TEXT. If a person is more inclined to use TEXT than SCRAWL they can be considered the TEXT GENeration. Some might argue that this is too diverse a group in that some elderly are quite “hip” on technology and use text messaging, instant messaging and social networking regularly. They are the exception though.
To keep in mind when you market to the TEXT GENeration:
- They have embraced technology and uses it in their every day lives.
- They understand computers and technology and are not afraid of it.
- They are the busiest generation yet. As such, they are rarely at home.
- They watch less television, listen to less radio and read fewer books and magazines.
- Many are keen on marketing and can easily say no to traditional advertising calls to action.
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Comments
Hi Ben, was going to e-mail you but I couldn’t find any contact information for you on your Web site.
My name is Justin Thorp and I’m the Developer Community Manager at Clearspring Technologies (http://clearspring.com).
I saw your comment on Om Malik’s blog about interest in Clearspring and creating widgets. If there is anything that I can do to help you with the process, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. My e-mail is justin@clearspring.com.
so, are you a generation texter?