Unlike Any Other Generation

The Generation Y which is the Millennial Generation consist of those born between 1980-2000. Digital technologies have given rise to a new generation of students and consumers. This generation was spoiled having to grow up with the internet. It definitely shaped their approach to education, work and politics.

Generation Y was born in the digital age unlike other generations who had to relearn everything. The forms of expression have changed immensely, where others may have wrote essays or poems to express themselves to now students creating YouTube videos. For example, have you checked out the new "Harlem Shake" Video Craze? It's the latest craze to sweep the internet that is bringing college students together. Check out the following video made by yours truly, Fairleigh Dickinson University Freshmen: 

We can never underestimate the power of the internet. It’s even evident in the school system! Professors and institutions transformed their learning techniques to cater to the computer-savvy students.  Teachers moved lessons to online discussions to fully engage the new student demographic. The school system designs their lesson plans to cater to the digital generation so they can feel more comfortable as students have radically changed. It’s scary how we're even at this point! Teachers may even feel as though their students are more up to date than they are. The students who are more digitally aware may understand things teachers or professors may not and the professors or teachers will have to play catch up.

As social media changed the way we learn in a classroom it has also changed how students practice activism. Students can freely join a Facebook group supporting a specific political party. According to the Pew Research Center study, 18-24 aged users were the LEAST likely of all ages to e-mail/reach out to a public official or to make a online political donation. But, when it came to using the web to share political news or join political causes, they were the primary age group to do so. They dominated the news feed with political related updates! The digital era isn't genuinely interested in being more politically involved; instead they only wanted to broadcast their “activism” to their fellow “friends” or followers on Facebook, Twitter and etc. The level of involvement we may see on these social media platforms may be deceiving.

Social Media Marketing

Social media plays a huge role in marketing. The several platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkined, etc. place such a high value on social media because of the significant role it plays in their business. The top reasons as to why businesses use social media is because: it generates more business exposure, increases traffic for the company, and provides marketplace insight. 

According to a Social Media Marketing Industry Report, the use of social media marketing has increased.

Use of Social Media Marketing

They asked if companies used social media to market their businesses. The overwhelming majority (94%) indicated they were employing social media for marketing purposes.

Social Media takes over!

Social Media is Important for their Business

A significant (83%) of marketers said that social media IS important to their businesses.

There was a drop from 2011 where (90%) thought social media was extremely important where only 62% agreed in 2011.

The solo business owner was more likely to agree with this statement. 

Weekly Time Commitment for Social Media Marketing 

About 59% of marketers are using social media for 6 hours or more and 33% for 11 hours or more weekly. This is such a significant number, don’t you think? Marketers spend so much time on social media it’s even a part of their job description. They must have knowledge on social media platforms and keep up to date with the current trends in their industry.

Social media has become vital in many professions. We can’t even begin to think how we did without it!

Marketers may think they can achieve more benefits by investing more time in social media.