Millennials and social networking
Jinfo Blog

12th July 2010

By Nancy Davis Kho

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In case there was any doubt, a pair of studies released this month by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and Elon University's Imagining the Internet Center says that social networking is here to stay, and that the 'digital natives' of the Millennial generation plan to carry on their online sharing habits as they age. The first study, entitled 'The Future of Social Relations,' (http://digbig.com/5bcabr), found that 85% of the 895 respondents, who were chosen for their expertise and engagement with the Internet, agreed with the statement, 'In 2020, when I look at the big picture and consider my personal friendships, marriage and other relationships, I see that the internet has mostly been a positive force on my social world. And this will only grow more true in the future.' Only 14% agreed with the corollary statement. Among the positive benefits cited by respondents was the ability to cultivate more relationships (both strong and weak) and to break down the obstacles posed by geography. But there was a note of caution, with the respondents pointing to reputation management, privacy concerns, and a loss of time for face-to-face interactions among the chief risks of internet growth. Don't bother trying to tell that to the kids. In another slice of the data from the same survey participants in their study 'Millennials will make online sharing in networks a lifelong habit', (http://digbig.com/5bcabw), 67% agreed with the statement: 'By 2020, members of Generation Y will continue to be ambient broadcasters who disclose a great deal of personal information in order to stay connected and take advantage of social, economic, and political opportunities. Even as they mature, have families, and take on more significant responsibilities, their enthusiasm for widespread information sharing will carry forward.' Interestingly, nearly a third of the respondents believed that the Millennials will 'grow out of it', giving up their social lives online as real-world encroachments on their time like career and families intrude. But June 2010 data from the blog InsideFacebook.com shows that the biggest gainers for the month continue to be the 45 and up age segment, consistent with figures showing that 38% of the site's users are over 35 (http://digbig.com/5bcaby). If the adult crowd doesn't show any sign of losing its fascination with online social networks, I'm skeptical that their children will.

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