SGHE Summit – Millennial, Metrics and the New Media

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Apr 272010

Millennial, Metrics and the New Media – John Della Volpe (@dellavolpe)

Millenials are a Big Deal

Millenials = 13 to 30 year olds, they are the largest generation in human history and they have a significant impact on the economy
This generation has trust issues – especially with traditional media and old institutions and they are not afraid to let you know it.
They trust a recommendation from a friend 4x as much as TV and email.
Connecting online was not a fluke, millennial’ brains are wired differently.
Gen X (latch key kids) – first generation where both parents are working. TV was the primary entertainer
Millennial (also latch key kids) – now the internet is the primary entertainer and they interact socially on the web
if not for Millennials, Hilary Clinton would be the president of the USA and not Barak Obama (e.g. Millenials voted for Obama 57% to 11% in Iowa) – Obama campaign targeted Millenials, Clinton did not

What are Millenials Thinking about today

Politics and Government (latest Harvard IOP Survey)
- Obama’s job performance stable
- Republicans eyeing midterm elections
- US Military most trusted institutions surveyed
Economy
- economic anxiety is palpable
- majority concerned about keeping head above water
- half of students concerned about staying in college
Service
- millennials remain committed to community service

Stats on concern about keeping head above water 45% stay in college, 46% ability to live in the city they want, 56% afford health care, 58% affort a place to liver, 60% ability to pay bills

“The Facebook” and Social Media

Facebook is the 3rd largest country by population, China, India, Facebook, USA …
by next Jan 2011, there will be more people 50+ yo on facebook than <30 yo
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/facebook.com for stats
Facebook is mainstream while Twitter skews younger

Mapping Your SocialSphere

ORBIT Map http://socialsphere.com
4 categories of sites on the Internet – General News (traditional), Industry News, Social Frameworks (Networks), Blogs and Communities – target type graphic for College Applicants and their interaction with the 4 types

What has Changed in the Last 18 Months

College Confidential, College Prowler, Zinch – social ranking sites
YouTube is starting to become more relevant and influential – video is really taking off
good Facebook site are becoming the ‘state of practice”

We need to see more effort connecting parents of millennials

parents are seeking much more information than ever before
social software can help deliver information and messages to parents
at BCIT, we talk about “Helicopter Parents” – “they are always hovering around”

This was a great talk and having John presenting two years in a row at Summit really helped show the significant changes over the past year.

John’s Contact Info: