GenY and Technology

I often find helpful insights from Dan Coates (President of YPulse Insights) and Engage GenY. The latest is no exception - Upward Mobility. These are some summary research insights on GenY and technology:

• 50% of collegians now have a smartphone
• 9 out of 10 use their phone for talking and texting
• Taking photos is the next most common usage (8 of 10)
• Sharing photos is next (7 of 10)
• About half use their phone to update status on social networks and browse the internet

All this points to the importance of those involved in innovation and ministry to think carefully about the impact and usage of this powerful technology.

Hmm... How are we doing?

Twitter & Me II

An hour or so ago, I posted "Twitter & Me". Then a Facebook friend posted on my wall the suggestion I checkout klout.com, which I had never done. So, what did I find?

According to Klout, I am an "Explorer" with a score of 35 (on a scale of 100). That sounds fairly mediocre.

But it goes on to say,

You actively engage in the social web, constantly trying out new ways to interact and network. You're exploring the ecosystem and making it work for you. Your level of activity and engagement shows that you "get it", we predict you'll be moving up.

That seems like a fairly accurate description, and it makes me "feel good" with hope for more.

But lest I get to excited, here is the cautionary note from Ecoconsultancy. (I guess if I were a "bot", I'd have more klout.)

As for the prediction, I shouldn't think it would take much to "move (me) up". Just a little more intentionality with my tweets.

Hmm... Maybe I tweet to that.

Twitter & Me

According to a December 31, 2010 Research Brief from the Center for Media Research, there is this on Tweeters:

According to the first-ever survey reading from Pew Research that exclusively examines Twitter users, 8% of online adults said they do use Twitter, with 2% doing so on a typical day. This survey also showed that 74% of American adults are Internet users, meaning that the Twitter cohort amounts to 6% of the entire adult population.

Wonder what is true of our typical audience--individuals involved in campus ministry and/or evangelism ministries?

In 2010, I dabbled with Twitter, 427 tweets to my now 206 followers. Contemplating now how to upgrade my effectiveness... Or if I should.

Hmm???

Social Media Revolution

In the genre of the Did You Know videos, here is The Social Media Revolution:

Had you seen this one already? What did you think?

What are the implications for outreach and evangelism?

Facebook's Backstory

Having just posted GenY's usage of Facebook, it may be of interest to consider a bit of the backstory of Facebook -- Hollywood style along with social commentary. Here to do that, is Chuck Colson, in his Breakpoint for the day, "The Social Network: A Crisis of Ethics in America".

GenY: Social Networking

GenY, that is those born between 1982-2004, are "the first generation in human history to, as children, be more technologically advanced than their parents." So writes Dan Coates, President of Ypulse, in his Engage GenY posting, entitled "Social Network Disconnect". He provides a good summary of GenY social networking preferences, including:

• 94% of GenY is on Facebook spending 11.4 hours/week there
• 78% prefer connecting to their preferred social network by mobile phone
• 55% prefer texting as their primary means of connecting with friends; Facebook (in second place for primary connecting) comes in at 24%

While there may be nothing surprising, it always good to have some of the latest research facts and figures at hand.

Thanks, Dan.

Facebook's Reign -Only Site that Matters for College Students

For today's college students, Facebook is the only social networking site that matters. That is the conclusion of a new study released by Anderson Analytics. While that may not come as too much of a surprise, there are a couple insights worth noting:

• All other social networking sites studied were considered "lame" by students. Guess there really isn't any up and coming sites threatening Facebook's position any time soon.
  
• Blogs are declining among students (down 8%). Maybe they are spending so much time communicating on Facebook, they no long have time to blog.
• Hulu.com now ranks among students' top-ten favorite web-sites. The migration of TV and video watching to internet streaming is underway! Still watching the shows, just through a different delivery system.
  

My favorite quote:

"With its increasing variety of applications and flexibility, Facebook is delivering one-stop shopping... (in a) hyper-fragmented digital universe... (it) is becoming more of a hub than just a social networking site - almost a mass medium... " opined Anderson.