September 10th, 2008
Move over Generations X and Y - Grandma's on MySpace
Don’t be surprised if Grandma sends you a Facebook gift for Christmas this year instead of a package of socks.
The NPD Group, a market research firm, reported yesterday that its “Entertainment Trends in America” report shows that in the U.S., 41 percent of baby boomer Internet users (age 44 to 61) surveyed are spending time on social networks such as LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook.
The survey data, which was based on a sample of more than 11,000 consumers, also showed that 61 percent of these baby boomers are using streaming or downloadable video sites, as well.
“There’s an ongoing misperception that certain Web activities are the exclusive domain of young people,” said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for The NPD Group, in the research firm’s report. “That misperception could cost the entertainment industry, in terms of lost opportunities to target valuable consumers.”
As social networks continue to grow and get more mainstream airtime — my 58-year-old mother was just talking about CNN’s Twitter feed — it makes sense that more and more baby boomers would get on board.
The NPD Group also makes the case that advertisers, which often market to those 40 and below on social networking sites, should consider that much of the online buying power remains with the baby boomer generation.
Thanks to That T-Shirt Site for the artwork
Jennifer Leggio, aka "Mediaphyter," writes about the "social business" side of social media - including enterprise, security and reputation issues. See her full profile and disclosure of her industry affiliations.
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