A couple of days ago, the Pew Research Center released a forty-some pages report on "Generation Next", basically the young adults that grew up with the PCs and cell phones and the internet and whatnot. This subject has already been covered on the main Futurelab blog so this article will have a different approach, as far as the extracted data is concerned.
The study's intro gives a brief description of what defines Generation Next. I have to admit, this GN syntagma leaves me a bit uneasy...not that it's poorly chosen, it's just a tad too 80s SF show -like for me. Then again, this is beyond the point. A bulleted list titled "Meet Generation Next" gives the outline of what the study decided to be the defining traits for the 18-25 years old Americans. Let's see some:
The first section of the study deals with the generation's world view. We'll skip that one and go to the second one, Technology&Lifestyle.
Of course, you should take the above paragraph with a grain of salt. And on the "making new friends" part, danah boyd said it best: "these sites are *not* about networking. They are about modeling one's social network.". Onwards then.
More data:
86% use the internet;
51% sent or received a text message in the day prior to being interviewed;
29% sent or received an instant message;
54% used a social networking site;
44% created a profile on such a site, as mentioned above;
75% said that most people they know used social networking websites (obviously, the interviewees thought about people their own age and not about great aunt Mae and her huge family, down in Backwater City);
51% of the men and 21% of the women play video games in their free time;
36% played a video game in the last week;
49% of the subjects play console games.
From here, the study enters areas that are of too little interest for this blog, such as politics. The full report can be found here. It should be noted that the study also compares the numbers with data for Generation X (those born between 1966 and 1980), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and what they call the Seniors (basically people over 60). As far as statistics go, I don't have much to object overall. Just that, for a study that starts with defining the subjects' group as a "cohort of young adults who have grown up with personal computers, cell phones and the internet", it pays too little attention to said aspects.
On the other hand, I never took statistics for more than numbers on a paper. You could say I'm more focused towards the individual and, if we're to touch percents, I'd be more intrigued by surveys taken among Second Life avatars, for example. I did report it however, like a good little blogger. Also, while I do realize that statistics, by definition, leave little to no room for creativity, minor exercises, such as letting the interviewees name this generation themselves would have brought a fantastic amount of flavor to the report, without pushing it out of the "serious studies" shelf. Not to mention, the horrible "Gen Nexter" term might have been overthrown.
Until next time, Alex out.
- They use technology and the internet to connect with people in new and distinctive ways. Text messaging, instant messaging and email keep them in constant contact with friends. About half say they sent or received a text message over the phone in the past day, approximately double the proportion of those ages 26-40.
- They are the “Look at Me” generation. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and MyYearbook allow individuals to post a personal profile complete with photos and descriptions of interests and hobbies. A majority of Gen Nexters have used one of these social networking sites, and more than four-in-ten have created a personal profile.
The first section of the study deals with the generation's world view. We'll skip that one and go to the second one, Technology&Lifestyle.
Progress can come at a price, and the public recognizes that new technologies have impacted society in both positive and negative ways. Thinking about the potential effects of new technology such as the internet, instant messaging, cell phones, text messaging, and iPods, solid majorities of the general public says these new technologies make people lazier (70%), make people more isolated (65%), and cause people to waste time (65%). On the upside, 65% say these new tools makes people more efficient and 56% say it can bring people closer to their families and friends. Only 45% say technology makes it easier to make new friends.There you have it. Technology makes people lazier. Isn't that the Great Dream though, to accomplish as much as you can with as little effort as possible? While I'm being slightly sarcastic here, I've never been a fan of slapstick statistics (so to speak) and while I couldn't say the PEW study falls under such a definition of sensational&ominous 2in1 studies that swarm the news daily, I have to object to the phrasing. Call it swimming upstream if you will but I'm curious how the question was asked. I should probably assume that the dialog was initiated by "Do you think technology makes people lazier?", a leading question, and not by a neutral "What do you think about technology [in report to whatsoever]?". Lazier compared to what? Bluntly put, the statistic tries to make the point that people take advantage of tech in order to avoid, let's say movement. "Why get up and go to the shop when you can order stuff online? Why go all the way to the university when you can send your book report in by email?" If that's what is defined by lazy then I say this: being a full-blooded slacker myself, 'lazy' isn't when I make my job easier by using whatever technology I have available, 'lazy' is when I can't even be bothered to use the blasted things in order to get the job done. And making people more isolated? I can understand where that is coming from but what I fear is that those numbers will be just another basis for that part of the media that's on a crusade against the internet and games and what have you. I never really understood how I'm being isolated when I'm chatting to 4-5 people at the same time and talking to a friend using Skype. I'm not particularly trying to throw brand names in your face but Nokia's slogan comes to mind at this moment. And no, I'm not (Pepsi) sending (Ikea) you any subliminal messages (why not buy a Renault?). No objections on the "wasting time" part, mainly because I'm busy finding a cool skin for Winamp.
Of course, you should take the above paragraph with a grain of salt. And on the "making new friends" part, danah boyd said it best: "these sites are *not* about networking. They are about modeling one's social network.". Onwards then.
More data:
86% use the internet;
51% sent or received a text message in the day prior to being interviewed;
29% sent or received an instant message;
54% used a social networking site;
44% created a profile on such a site, as mentioned above;
75% said that most people they know used social networking websites (obviously, the interviewees thought about people their own age and not about great aunt Mae and her huge family, down in Backwater City);
51% of the men and 21% of the women play video games in their free time;
36% played a video game in the last week;
49% of the subjects play console games.
From here, the study enters areas that are of too little interest for this blog, such as politics. The full report can be found here. It should be noted that the study also compares the numbers with data for Generation X (those born between 1966 and 1980), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and what they call the Seniors (basically people over 60). As far as statistics go, I don't have much to object overall. Just that, for a study that starts with defining the subjects' group as a "cohort of young adults who have grown up with personal computers, cell phones and the internet", it pays too little attention to said aspects.
On the other hand, I never took statistics for more than numbers on a paper. You could say I'm more focused towards the individual and, if we're to touch percents, I'd be more intrigued by surveys taken among Second Life avatars, for example. I did report it however, like a good little blogger. Also, while I do realize that statistics, by definition, leave little to no room for creativity, minor exercises, such as letting the interviewees name this generation themselves would have brought a fantastic amount of flavor to the report, without pushing it out of the "serious studies" shelf. Not to mention, the horrible "Gen Nexter" term might have been overthrown.
Until next time, Alex out.
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