Comments on: Millennial, Gen X, Boomer, Other: Does it Matter?

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:56:52 +0000

A friend of mine Mark Federman (formerly strategic director at the McLuhan program at U of T) has a theory that there is a massive generation gap that can be tracked back to 1996 and the Netscape IPO. The kids who were 10 back then are now 22. They are the first generation who grew up connected with the notion of technology as biology (vs. adapting to technology and seeing it as outside of themselves).

By: Leisa Reichelt

Leisa Reichelt — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:34:46 +0000

I broadly agree with you, I think.

However, I did also read a book the other day called Generation Me (with a super long tag line I don’t remember) that talked about the difference between the post-Boomers, who have been brought up by their parents to believe that they are the most important people in the world and that their personal happiness and self-esteem are of primary importance - and the differences that that particular attitude has brought about, which was quite interesting.

I’d also say that what ‘technology’ age you were born into could be quite important also - at least, it seems to be now. Not sure how that’s going to play out over time.

Both of these are potentially temporal things though - and they’re really much more specific in terms of cause and effect than generalising about generations.

Interesting to think about tho

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:59:32 +0000

I’ve never understood the urge to lump an entire generation together on the basis of age either. Just what exactly does Gen Y in a slum in Brazilia and Gen Y on a slope in Aspern have in common? (Well, it certainly isn’t life expectancy)

By: Tim Peter

Tim Peter — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:39:29 +0000

Reminds me of an old saying, “There are two types of people in this world: one that believes there are two types of people; one that doesn’t.”

One-to-one marketing is over-hyped, under-delivered, and rarely necessary. Addressing the needs of folks who behave similarly often accomplishes the goal. While generational cohorts provide one way to lump folks together - to your point - it ain’t the best way to go. Far better to focus on behaviors and meet the needs there.