Millennial (Y) Generation

The Internet has a power to influence, connect, and mobilize the population. Technological advances are no longer shocking but simply expected.  Today’s society has different expectations for all types of relationships. Relationships are now different because the tools used to maintain peer to peer connections have undergone a vast alteration. The primary focus is on the Internet and, with that, the development of social media. Social media are a web-based technology that transforms how people communicate by enhancing interactive conversations.

 Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, said, 

More than 175 million people use Facebook. If it were a country, it would be the sixth most populated country in the world.

Facebook has the ability to bring people together in a wide variety of ways.  People are now accessing social media from mobile devices and laptops making it a commonality in everyday life. 

Social media platforms as Facebook brings bad habits

Social media is continuing to grow exponentially based on the wants of the people nowadays. Social media users are Generation Y, also referred to as the ‘net generation,’ who have grown up understanding the power of the Internet. Generation Y is unconsciously addicted to social media and as a result they feel constant pressure to be connected with their peers through maintaining a connection with technology such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. The internet and social media are a new kind of fluency, it’s like an acquired language. Social media has their own language, culture norms, and sensibilities. Those who practice the skill are naturally going to adapt to it and will use it in their daily routine.

It’s sad how we the millennial (birth dates from the early 1980s to the early 2000s) are considered to be apathetic, disinterested, tuned out, and selfish. From the Clinton Global Initiative University, 75% of students are likely addicted to social media. It is said that the millennials are regularly drawn to their cell phone. As mobile natives, it is said that we recognize mobile phones as more than just phone calls because it enables texting between friends or even tweeting. Millennials are viewed as social media obsessed. I mean who isn't ? It’s hard not to be in the world we live in today. Everything is related to social media. But, some do live for their “likes” and status updates.

The new digital age has brought about extraordinary developments in technology have altered the world. Yes, technology does play an important role in our day to day lives which is what makes generation Y’s view of the social world different to others. They haven’t lived in a world without it! Generation Y has the need to stay plugged into social media platforms. Young people may describe their phone as a part of themselves and wouldn't be able to function without it. Technology has become integrated in our culture.

Social Media Campaign Raises Thousands

In regards to my previous post, Social Media Helped Boston Bombing, the suspect was found several days after the attack. He was found hiding in a boat located in a Watertown resident’s backyard.   

During the manhunt in Watertown for the Boston Bombing suspect, Dave Henneberry reported that he found the terror suspect hidden in his beloved boat. The state police raced to the scene as quick as possible and spotted the suspect by using their night vision equipment. The police detected the suspect’s body under the tarp in the boat.

This brave citizen found the suspect crouched in his boat “Slip Away II” and reported it. It was said that Dave just had the boat done and spent so much money on it. The police riddled the boat with many bullet holes.

Dave’s neighbors felt for him because they knew his boat was his baby. The vessel is now damaged. However, he is awarded the $50,000 for tipping the FBI information about the fugitive. The people of Watertown argue that the repairs for the boat shouldn’t be taken out of the reward. The support for an everyday man has been incredibly amazing. This incident has inspired several social media fundraising campaigns. They used Crowdit.com, the world’s largest funding platform for group experiences, activities and more. The page has raised more than $12,000 in just a few days. The power of social media is beyond my understanding.

Where Social Media Will Take Us

Remember everything I spoke about in my previous post about the power of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms to help develop modern businesses. It’s evident that Facebook creates opportunities for companies. Social media sites continue to increase sales for companies and widen their networks of connections.  The fact that Facebook hit 1 billion users means businesses have more potential users to appeal to. Customers appreciate how easily accessible information can be found online. The benefits of sharing information online are that it’s quick and easy. This generation wants everything at the tip of their fingers. Social networks are becoming a new kind of virtual currency for companies and corporations. You may ask yourself how much social media will evolve over the years? Companies are behind the eight ball when it comes to adapting to the newest technologies and change. Social media provides companies with power and allows them the opportunity to become market leaders and influencers.

Companies should know the following about social media:

1. They know what their consumers are interested in. They know what you’re interested in buying, selling, and seeing. With a simple "like" on Facebook or "follow" on Twitter companies know what their consumers are looking into.


2. Companies know before they know. They do their best to know things before their consumers know. Companies want to know what the customers thinking of. They are sites like Chango with information about what their prospects and consumers are looking at. This benefits the company because it will lure the potential consumer into their services or products.


3. It’s not who you are it’s what you know! The power of networking will benefit you in the long run because the contacts you gain may help you book an interview or meeting with a potential employer. To measure your online influence, visit Klout and login with your social media accounts. The site will generate a score that measures your influence among the media platforms you are active in. It also has a this cool feature, “pulse”, in which you can keep up to date with the world’s top influencers and see where they stand among the rest.

Here you can see how influential Justin Bieber is compared to our President on social media

These many changes continue to shape how companies and well known corporations such as CBS, NBC, and etc., conduct their business. We live in a social media driven world, embracing change is optional but then again so is survival.