According to research done by Forrester, who polled nearly 43,000 people during the second quarter of 2010, between Generation X (31 to 44 year olds) and Generation Y (18 to 30 year olds) smartphone ownership stands at 23%. That’s roughly 1 out of every 4 people owning a device that gives them access to their social networks, maps, music and even the occasional YouTube video.
“The digital attitudes and behaviors that Gen Y and Gen X are cultivating now will follow them as they age and will only be multiplied in the generations that follow them,” said Forrester Research Consumer Insights Analyst Jacqueline Anderson. “Gen Y in particular is living and breathing a digital social life. In almost every online or mobile behavior, Gen Y leads the adoption curve. About two-thirds update or maintain a profile on a social networking site, which for them is a way to facilitate all social aspects of their lives.”
“On the other hand, Gen X is the master of maximizing the functional benefits of technology. In many activities, Gen Xers closely rival Gen Yers in adoption. For example, both spend about 17 hours online a week. But Gen Xers have mastered the art of using digital tools in a more functional manner, especially if it supports their family’s needs,” said Anderson.
The difference between these two ages groups, at least how I see it among my wide range of friends, is that the younger generation having grown up with these technologies doesn’t really see them as a big deal. This stuff has always been there, whereas the older folks are like moths attracted to a light bulb. It’s new, it’s pretty, it’s addicting, and they can’t get enough of it. When I tell people I don’t use my laptop during the weekend or when I’m not working they look at me like I’m mad, especially since I fit in the Generation Y age range, but eventually those internet addicts will grow up and realize that just like water and electricity, because you have it everywhere, doesn’t mean you need to constantly consume.
[Via: Cellular News]