Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

'Generation C' likes social networking, tech gadgets

Step aside Gen X.

It looks like Generation C is outpacing you and other older users when it comes to online connections, redefining social media consumption in the U.S.

Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 are more connected online and more into the digital devices than any other age group, according to a report out Thursday from Nielsen Wire.

The age group, also known as Gen C, makes up 23% of the U.S. population, but it comprises larger chunks of various social and digitally savvy groups.

Based on multiple surveys of online users in the U.S., Nielsen reported that Gen C users represent 27% of people watching online video. That makes it the second-largest age group watching online videos, just slightly behind the 35-to-49 age group, which makes up 28% of online video viewers.

When it comes to visiting social networking sites and blogs, 27% are from Gen C.

Bigger differences between age groups showed up when Nielsen looked at whose using digital gadgets.

Gen C is the largest age group when it comes to tablet owners (33%) and smartphones (39%). For smartphones, Gen C has a good head start on the next largest age group -- those between 35 and 49, which make up 30% of smartphone users.

"Their ownership and use of connected devices makes them incredibly unique consumers, representing both a challenge and opportunity for marketers and content providers alike," Nielsen said in its report. "Generation C is engaging in new ways and there are more touch points for marketers to reach them."

Some might ask what's so surprising about younger users being big on social networking and computer gadgets. After all, younger users are always the tech leaders. Right?

Well, that theory has been tested over the past few years.

In 2009, a report released by iStrategyLabs showed that while the number of Facebook's U.S. high school and college-age users had declined over a six-month period, its popularity among the 55-and-older crowd was booming. In fact, the number of Facebook users over 55 showed staggering growth -- 513.7% -- in a six-month time spam.

And that wasn't a one-time fluke.

In the spring of 2009, Facebook's audience of users over the age of 35 increased by 23% compared with the same time frame a year earlier.

Related Articles

  1. CMO interview: Becoming a change agent

    CMO

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: Facebook, Nielsen
References show all
Comments are now closed.
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • NetApp FAS6240 Clustered SAN Champion of Champions
    Storage systems today must match agility with diversified I/O performance to satisfy an enterprise’s changing needs. In their review, Silverton Consulting ranks the NetApp FAS6240 Clustered SAN, as an Enterprise OLTP “Champion of Champions.” Read the results of their benchmark testing and the features that impressed them the most.
    Learn more »
  • Governance For All - Empowering IT and Business Content Owners
    Governance for all is more than an IT initiative or a goal written in a plan document; it’s a strategy that unites IT and business content owners to achieve their SharePoint goals. At its best, governance means empowering self-governance, with tools like delegated access, effective reporting, and automated policy enforcement. This white paper explains how to create a “governance for all” strategy that will enhance SharePoint adoption and its benefits to the organization. Read now.
    Learn more »
  • A Holistic Approach to your BYOD Challenge
    More and more enterprises are seeing significant benefits from allowing employees to choose the device they use to get their jobs done, and are adopting bring your own device (BYOD) initiatives. While the BYOD trend increases flexibility and productivity, it introduces a host of new challenges for your IT administrators. Click for more!
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments