Multi-Generation

As a member of the Baby Boomer Generation, social media is a relatively new phenomenon for me. I interviewed a member of Generation X (born 1979) to get his perspective on the use of social media.

Do you use social media?

-          Yes

What social media formats do you use?

-          Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

How do you use these formats? Personal? Business? Social? Family? Educational?

-          I use these formats for Personal (to keep friends up to date as to what is going on with me), Business (to look at potential employees and how they portray themselves), Social (Just to talk to friends from time to time), Family (Share pictures and information with each other) and Educational (to stay abreast as to what is happening in my industry and other news of the world).

Is there any social media format that you will not use? Why or why not?

-          Yes, Pinterest and Tagged. I don't see the point of it and/or I don't have many friends that use those sights

How does social media affect or impact your specific line of work as an executive security professional? Adversely? Beneficially?

-          Information is immediately available. Keeping a client’s location a secret is very difficult, because of how connected everyone is to social media. One picture can go viral in a matter of minutes. It can also be beneficial at times when you want to actually get the word out about something. For example, if I have a job opening and I use social media to get applicants then that position will not be vacant long.

As a business owner, do you use social media to market your business?

-          As a business owner I do try and market my business, but I find it demeaning to my business....personally.

The purpose of my interview is to identify differences and similarities between different generations regarding their perspective on the use and effectiveness of social media tools. What do you see as differences and similarities between your generation and your parents? Your generation and younger people, 16-24 year old?

-          My generation is the generation that started social media and constant communication without having face-to-face interaction with others. My parents are used to actually speaking to a live person either on the phone or face-to-face. They are still trying to learn how to navigate and benefit from social media.

-          Although my generation started social media, the younger generations don't know anything but social media. They live on their cell phones, laptops and personal computers. They are constantly connected to others yet not connected at all.

-          In addition...social media allows people who have never met each other to interact in a common forum.

This interview was informative in that I was surprised to learn that someone younger than me perceives social media as having some limitations in how they do business.  Personally, I prefer to use social media on a limited basis. I find Facebook beneficial for keeping up with friends and family across the country and around the world, but I rarely post anything on my page. I follow specific individuals on Twitter whom I feel have something substantive to share, but I have never tweeted.  I have a profile on LinkedIn to network for career advancement opportunities. Prior to taking a class in social media, I was totally unaware of all of the social media platforms and sites available. As a graduate student, I have learned about blogging because I was forced to do so.

There are several business ventures that my family and I would like to start and I have come to the realization that we will have to use social media to  successfully engage potential customers. To reach baby boomers, we will develop a campaign using email and Facebook with links to the product website.  For Gen Xer's, the campaign would build on the Facebook page and add Twitter and a blog. To engage potential Gen Y customers, we would possibly develop an app for mobile devices and/or offer a contest with video entries.