Sept 2010 - Millennials are the first generation to be raised with online media. As young adults, ages 18 to 34, these digital natives quickly adopt new technologies, then adapt them to fit their lifestyles. If something that suits them better comes along, they are quick to move on.
Indeed, 24% of respondents in this age group chose “technology use” as the trait that sets them apart from previous generations, according to the Pew Research Center.
Millennials’ media usage is also different from preceding generations. They do not read newspapers or watch TV the same ways their parents do.
Today, 78% of millennial internet users engage with social media, including blogs, microblogs, social networks, and photo- and video-sharing sites, according to a Harris Poll. By contrast, just 43% of their parents and grandparents do.
“Millennials will build on their digital social skills as they age, making online sharing a lifelong habit,” said Lisa E. Phillips, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report “Millennials Online: Marketing to a Moving Target.” “This generation grew up with PCs and quickly adopted the internet it is not only ingrained behavior but practically part of their DNA.”