Social Media At Every Age

Social Media All Ages

When crafting a speech, writing a business plan, designing a website or developing an ad – what is the first thing you do? You define the audience. You start with demographic data and then get more detailed.

It’s hot right now to define your target audience as Millenials. Did you know that a Millennial embodies anyone born from 1982 to early 2004? That means when you define your audience as Millenials; your audience is 11-year-olds to 32-year-olds. Was that indeed your target age group? Furthermore we all know that you at 20 was significantly different from you at 25 and even more so at 30. Therefore, by the process of deductive reasoning – a 20-year old uses Facebook is different than a 30-year-old, 40-year-old, or 50-year-old.

This whole one size fits all for social media, doesn’t really work.

We therefore decided it would be fun to ask our friends, family and acquaintances that do not work in social media what social media they use and what they think about it. The results were so interesting and some pretty humorous that we decided we couldn’t keep them to ourselves.

Below is what we call “Social Media At Every Age.” The people included below work in a mix of fields including but not limited to, social work, real estate, acting, sales, government, retail, law, and medical.

FACEBOOK

College

Female 18: I use Facebook all the time, but I almost never post anything besides pictures
Male 18: Facebook – I like Facebook
Female 20: I only really use it for sorority stuff and to keep people posted on my life. I kind of really hate the new policy that Facebook owns us.
Male 20: Yes I use Facebook. I never post anything, but I use it to keep in contact.

Twenties

Female 22: On it since middle school but I hate it, mostly passive user, deactivated for a week and loved it.
Male 24: I love it. I find it great for my friends and acquaintances. And to keep in touch with friends I might not otherwise. It’s nice to see what they’re all doing even though I might not talk to them on the phone every day. It’s also the only way I can keep track of everyone’s birthdays and big life events.
Male 26: I’m on it, think it’s outdated, kind of boring…but my go to for people stalking.
Female 29: Annoying, but almost a necessity to keep up with people.

Thirties

Female 31: All day, every day. I wish it wasn’t true! Trying to cut back…
Male 32: Yes, basically to share photos with my Mom of my son now that she finally has an iPhone.
Male 35: I use all the time but don’t post many things. I don’t feel everybody needs to know every second of my day.
Female 38: To keep up with friends and family, news and ideas.

Forties

Male 42: Yes and the use has been for networking purposes but I think it’s getting pretty spammy of late and there now seem to be so many videos in my timeline…not digging it so much.
Female 42: Yes. I’m on it and like it. That’s how I get the news and in touch with my friends.
Female 45: A great way to stay in touch with friends and family that you do not get to see much. You get to see what they’re currently up to. Life is so busy for everyone that it’s hard to keep up to date using other methods, like the phone.
Male 45: On it, but far from an active user. I’m at the age where it was great at first reconnecting with long-lost high school classmates but have quickly come to remember why I lost touch with them to begin with.

Fifties

Female 51: Try not to – but sometimes the only way to steal cool pictures of the family.
Male 56: It is good for connecting with friends and family.
Female 57: Had to go stealth, under the radar, working with high school students – I didn’t want to be found.
Male 59: Yes. Mostly I’m a voyeur but occasionally, if something is very important to me (i.e. politically or personally) I’ll post. I’ll occasionally post about my health coaching business.

Sixties

Female 62: I don’t know. I don’t have it or do it.
Male 63: Stay in touch with friends primarily and secondarily post items of interest to stimulate discussion
Female 66: I’ve never seen it, but everyone tells me I’m all over it! My kids put up pictures of me. Why tell the whole world that you had dinner?
Male 66: More than I want to know. Use it to see what my children won’t tell me about their escapades. Amazed at the nonsense some people think is crucial for me to see.

Seventies

Male 70: I use it for keeping up to date w/ family and friends, am not very active with posting status updates. I like to spy on my daughter.
Female 72: I do not use

Facebook Conclusion: This is the main network that everyone is on. Whether they are a frequent user or not, it seems like all ages are on it to connect with people from their past and present.

TWITTER

Twitter_logo_blue

College

Female 18: I don’t use twitter. I don’t really get it.
Male 18: I think Twitter is more fun than Facebook, but not all my friends use it so it’s not as good for socializing.
Female 20: I don’t really understand.
Male 20: I signed up but never used it.

Twenties

Female 22: Have one but don’t even understand it.
Male 24: This is my main daily news source: whether it is celebrity gossip from Perez Hilton, politics, or current events. In addition, I use it to follow my favorite celebrities: in a way it really humanizes them, and makes you feel like they are more real everyday people, which I enjoy.
Male 26: I barely use it, but feel it’s the most useful for getting across information instantaneously, was very useful during Hurricane Sandy in NYC.
Female 29: I have never tweeted.

Thirties

Female 31: Never used it. It’s for celebrities in my opinion.
Male 32: No tweets or whatever you call them here.
Male 35: I don’t use it.
Female 38: Don’t use it but I kind of wish I did, but I don’t need another thing to monitor.

Forties

Male 42: Yes, use this to stay up to date on current events, favorite teams, athletes, entertainers, friends; while also being entertained by some clever Tweeters.
Female 42: I’m not on it.
Female 45: I haven’t used Twitter much.
Male 45: Have been on Twitter for a while and interesting to see it’s maturity. Remember when it first came out and people were tweeting what they had for dinner (now there’s Instragram!), and see it develop as a communication channel for business.

Fifties

Female 51: Know what it is – but no birdies tweeting right now.
Male 56: It’s a waste of time– I don’t want to know what everyone’s thinking in a stream of consciousness basis.
Female 57: Really like the minute-to-minute updates, sense of what is going on and what people are thinking.
Male 59: I like Twitter because you really have to learn to be concise. Not a big user but as above.

Sixties

Female 62: Don’t have it.
Male 63: Not on it.
Female 66: What’s that? With the bird?
Male 66: Also too much information and nonsense but use it to track the news (CNN, NYT, etc). The concept of ReTweeting is ludicrous; it’s like republishing the Bible and trying to get credit for “discovering” it. Imagine it there were actual stores for rephotographing, or repainting, etc.

Seventies

Male 70: I know what it is but I am not on it.
Female 72: I do not use.

Twitter Conclusion: Those who are on it use it as an instantaneous news source or way to connect with celebrities. Those who aren’t, are not clear on how to utilize Twitter.

GOOGLE+

College

Female 18: I don’t even know what Google+ is.
Male 18: Straight up sucks. Failed attempt at Facebook.
Female 20: Didn’t even know it was a thing. I’ve just seen it on the Google page.
Male 20: Heh heh heh that’s a good one. No one uses this.

Twenties

Female 22: What is this?
Male 24: I don’t use it personally, but I do know the info on there is important for showing up on search results (perhaps more important for brands and companies).
Male 26: Have been on my profile maybe 3 times in two years.
Female 29: Stick to the search engine, Google!

Thirties

Female 30: While I’m on there, no clue as to its purpose or why I’m signed up.
Male 32: Yes, but I think it just happened by default. I never log on or use it.
Male 35: Email only.
Female 38: I don’t use.

Forties

Male 42: No. I guess I’m a Google minus.
Female 42: I use Google. I don’t know what plus is.
Female 45: I use Google all the time to search for things that I need to price compare or research. It’s my go-to search engine.
Male 45: My platform of choice. The power of Google, the opportunity to circle (and be circled) to create content areas is wonderful.

Fifties

Female 51: Great way to share docs and such.
Male 56: I don’t use it.
Female 57: Rarely connect to it.
Male 59: Was this really necessary? I’m a registered user but whose got the time to maintain two Facebooks?

Sixties

Female 62: Is that like regular Google?
Male 63: Research various subjects. Google individuals.
Female 66: I’m on the Google for my email.
Male 66: To me it is Google minus.

Seventies

Male 70: I know what it is but I do not use it.
Female 72: I use Google as a search engine, but I don’t think that’s what you mean!

Google+ Conclusion: No one knows what Google+ is and why or how they got on it. Everyone thinks it is just Google or Gmail.

LINKEDIN

LinkedIn_logo_initials

College

Female 18: I’m not looking for a job so it doesn’t really have any use for me.
Male 18: Very professional, maybe in a few years.
Female 20: Good for grownups to connect about jobs. Not fun, just informative.
Male 20: Nope. Not on it.

Twenties

Female 22: Career center at my school was obsessed. Everyone my age I know has one.
Male 24: I use it because I think its smart to have from a professional standpoint but am not active on it.
Male 26: Probably the account I care about most as I associated it with work, basically an electronic resume.
Female 29: Use very infrequently. Kind of creepy to see what random people look at your profile.

Thirties

Female 31: I have it….. I think.
Male 32: Yes, the Facebook for professionals. I like it because you don’t have to see photos of everyone’s kids and I don’t feel guilty by not hitting the “like” option because I don’t see one yet in LinkedIn. It also helped me get my current job, so many solid recruiters on there!
Male 35: Don’t use.
Female 38: Professional networking and seeing what people are up to.

Forties

Male 42: Yes, for networking purposes
Female 42: I have it, but I’m not using it right now. If I was looking for a job I would be active on it.
Female 45: This is a great business tool to network with other business professionals as well as finding out about job opportunities. I haven’t used it much lately but plan to get back in touch.
Male 45: A great platform for business networking, and interesting to see them develop as a publishing platform as well.

Fifties

Female 51: Yep – but have not found the perfect job it keeps promising me.
Male 56: A good tool for business contacts.
Female 57: Will definitely use it once I am in job search mode.
Male 59: Registered but I think my profile is outdated and who cares? I’m not looking for a job and I’m not about to get business from it. So it seems pretty useless to me.

Sixties

Female 62: I’m not a member because I don’t need it. I have a job I’m happy with and I don’t need a new one.
Male 63: I have a lot of “friends/associates” that are on it but I rarely use it.
Female 66: Never heard of it. Linked to what?
Male 66: Increasingly important professionally, can replace having your own web site. Recommendations from other people – they think they are doing me a favor but most have nothing to do with what I actually do. Hate the notices telling me what people who I have no interest in are up to.

Seventies

Male 70: I don’t need to be on it because I have a job. But I am aware of what it is.
Female 72: The only social media I use is LinkedIn, and I don’t really use that to its maximum usefulness. It seems like it’s a very worthwhile media. I’m listed but I haven’t filled out my profile except very marginally, mostly out of laziness.

LinkedIn Conclusion: Across the board this is the go-to network for business. Everyone acknowledges that they currently use or would use it for job related searches.

YOUTUBE

College

Female 18: I download music using youtube2mp3 but that’s all I ever really go to it for.
Male 18: I love using my YouTube account. I am subscribed to many channels.
Female 20: I use it to watch music videos.
Male 20: I’m on it way more than any human actually should.

Twenties

Female 22: Love it, great time waster!
Male 24: I use it to upload my own videos and share my music. I am also on it constantly watching performances (music and comedy), music videos, and move trailers. I don’t usually sign in, like, or comment- but no particular reason why not.
Male 26: I think it’s a great tool for looking up video’s and I love it for reminding myself of when my sports teams were actually good.
Female 29: Great for funny videos!

Thirties

Female 31: For truck and digger videos for my toddler when we are at dinner, or for learning things for photography stuff
Male 32: I don’t log in but I watch everything on YouTube. If it’s less than 1080p quality don’t even bother having any hopes of me watching it. You leave those grainy VHS quality flip vids to show your grandma who won’t notice the difference.
Male 35: Love YouTube. Gets me thru the boring parts of my day. Found a terrible song the other day that was so bad it was good and catchy. And then I heard it on the radio 3 weeks later. “Trampoline” by Kalin and Myles.
Female 38: I use it to watch videos

Forties

Male 42: Watch videos there and post videos there along with on Vimeo for work-related video projects.
Female 42: Sometimes I’m on it, but it’s more my son.
Female 45: I’m a visual person so it’s really helpful to visually see how to do something. When I decided to start to crochet again, but forgot how to get started, this was a great tool to help me get back in the game.
Male 45: Use this both for personal use and business. Great to be able to create video from Google Hangouts – and look up old videos of bad 80s hair bands – on one platform.

Fifties

Female 51: Got some great “stupid” training videos and when you are having a bad day.
Male 56: Fun stuff!
Female 57: Great when I need a laugh.
Male 59: Fun. I don’t have a channel and I’ve never posted a video. Doesn’t mean I won’t. Been thinking about it but I don’t have any world-changing ideas yet.

Sixties

Female 62: Oh I love it! I see funny videos, listen to music, watch lectures and look things up. It’s helpful and quick.
Male 63: I go on it occasionally for music videos and unusual videos.
Female 66: For the videos, right? Like cats?
Male 66: Music videos and “how to’s” for those of us challenged by the mysteries of life, like how to fold a shirt, pack a suitcase, hard boil an egg, or open my Otterbox.

Seventies

Female 72: I do not use.
Male 70: I watch how-to videos, go on for work, look at reviews and also watch humorous videos.

YouTube Conclusion: Did we really need to question the power of YouTube? The interesting thing is how many people commented they watch music on it – good to think about when planning YouTube ads. Another thing is many use it daily, but few subscribe to channels.

TUMBLR

Tumblr

College

Female 18: I’m not hipster enough.
Male 18: I’m not hipster enough.
Female 20: Too hipster and consumes so much time.
Male 20: I like the posts but I do not use it myself.

Twenties

Female 22: No idea what this really is.
Male 24: I don’t personally use it, but I text gifs 24/7 and I’m pretty sure they are all originally from (or at least primarily exist now) on Tumblr.
Male 26: I don’t understand this thing. I think a lot of people post weird pictures on it.
Female 29: I like Tumblr for cool pictures and jokes.

Thirties

Female 31: I attempted this while I was still blogging…biggest fail and still don’t really get it or ever even hear about it.
Male 32: Huh? No – is this like Instagram on steroids. I am guessing by Jay Z’s lyrics, “District of Columbia, guns on your Tumblrs.”
Male 35: I don’t use.
Female 38: I don’t use.

Forties

Male 42: Isn’t this a type of gymnast? Or isn’t it a whiskey glass?? No Tumblr-ing for me.
Female 42: I’ve never heard of it.
Female 45: Not sure what in the world this is but now I’m curious to see what its about.
Male 45: Never really got into Tumblr. Only so many hours in a day.

Fifties

Female 51: Only to see my daughters travel blog.
Male 56: I don’t get it. What’s the point?
Female 57: Never.
Male 59: Heard of it. No idea what it is.

Sixties

Female 62: What is a Tumblr?
Male 63: Don’t use.
Female 66: Tum what?
Male 66: Unknown, will probably stay that way.

Seventies

Male 70: I have never heard of this
Female 72: I do not use

Tumblr Conclusion: We are all not hipster enough for Tumblr.

INSTAGRAM

Instagram

College

Female 18: I love Instagram!
Male 18: I have two uses for Instagram, hockey videos and liking my girlfriend’s pictures 😛
Female 20: I am obsessed. I love using it. Pictures are a great way of letting people know what is going on.
Male 20: I use it. It’s pretty much just people posting pictures of food and Starbucks.

Twenties

Female 22: On it mainly to follow famous people.
Male 24: I love how it helps me take photos of things I might not have found special. I also use it to keep track of my close friends, where as Facebook I use for a broader spectrum of friends. In the past year or two it has become a much more public platform for me where I started following people I find interesting that I don’t even know simply because their pictures are something I enjoy on the daily. I have an account for music/professional, and then I have a personal account.
Male 26: I’m awful at Instagram, but I enjoy seeing other people’s pics. It seems to be that this is the most popular tool for picture communicating among my friends besides Snapchat.
Female 29: I LOVE the gram; love seeing people’s pictures, love taking pictures. My fave.

Thirties

Female 31: LOVEEEEEEE. My favorite of all the time… I manage 3 sites (my personal, my photography, and a non-profit account)
Male 32: HelveticYA! It’s great, I can take my Swanson TV dinner for one, throw it on a plate then take a pic at an “artsy” angle. Then I play with a few filters and all of a sudden “I’m a professional photographer”. Come on people, it’s a great app but leave the National Geographic and Sports Illustrated shoots up to the professionals.
Male 35: I like Instagram. I only follow people I know and interested in learning new things from.
Female 38: Pics and places!

Forties

Male 42: Yes and no real good reason for using this aside from sharing some #tbt pics from #backintheday.
Female 42: No, I don’t use it.
Female 45: Haven’t used this yet.
Male 45: Actually just created an Instagram account – haven’t totally gotten my head around it yet, posted a few pics, gotten to see what friends are having for lunch, that sort of thing.

Fifties

Female 51: Don’t use much but neat way to do pic collages.
Male 56: I don’t use it.
Female 57: Really like it, great to follow certain people, some amazing photos.
Male 59: I like Instagram. I check in about once a week to catch up. I’ll even post a picture occasionally.

Sixties

Female 62: I like it. I use it to see my children and relatives. I like the things people put on. Everyone looks like a photographer. It helps me keep in touch with people.
Male 63: Occasionally just to view pictures others post.
Female 66: That’s like the picture magnets on the fridge, right? (Yes!)
Male 66: Great for communicating privately with my kids. An ingenuous concept operationalized and implemented well (as opposed to Snapchat which for me has gone nowhere).

Seventies

Male 70: I know what this is but I am not on it.
Female 72: I do not use.

Instagram Conclusion: The younger generation that is on it, acknowledges that it makes everyone a photographer and loves it for just that reason. The older generation is a little bit more critical of that topic. Either way, most are on it and use it to connect with a more close knit family and friends, than Facebook. It also sounds like parents have gotten on it to view their kids photos, but do not post themselves.

VINE

Vine

College

Female 18: I used Vine for a week and then I got bored when Instagram video came out.
Male 18: It was fun until Instagram came out with video.
Female 20: I think its stupid. Some vines are cool but they are a waste of time and take too long to make.
Male 20: I don’t use the actual app but I watch compilations on YouTube,

Twenties

Female 22: Was fun for a little now I don’t use it.
Male 24: I love vine, and use it primarily for my music career. Putting myself out there in a way that I don’t see other social media outlets catch on. I almost solely connect with people I do not know at all. I do find it to be more popular amongst younger teenagers. Amazed at how much you can do in 6 seconds.
Male 26: Love the short comedy videos, but I’ve never posted.
Female 29: Funny, but I never use it.

Thirties

Female 31: No idea.
Male 32: Eh – good idea and I see why people like it. A short film in like under 10 seconds that you create. Perfect because people tend to have the attention span of a goldfish now a days.
Male 35: I don’t use.
Female 38: I don’t use.

Forties

Male 42: Created an account but never used it.
Female 42: I’ve never heard of it.
Female 45: No clue.
Male 45: One platform I totally feel too old to appreciate. My kids are constantly messing around with it, saying “check out this vine” … I just can’t get worked up over a 6-second video.

Fifties

Female 51: hmmmm – nothing is growing on vines in this cold weather.
Male 56: I don’t use it – I’m old!
Female 57: Rarely go on any more. I used it more last year.
Male 59: I love Vine. Some of the funniest stuff in just 6 seconds. And if it’s not funny you only have to endure it for 6 seconds. Cool!

Sixties

Female 62: I’m on it because my sons use it for music and then I see other people on it that do music too. There is this one magician guy that is amazing!
Male 63: WTF is that
Female 66: Nope
Male 66: I pick nothing from it

Seventies

Male 70: Vine??? What is that?
Female 72: I do not use.

Vine Conclusion: Things don’t bode well for Vine’s future, especially now that Twitter and Instagram have video. But then again Twitter owns Vine. Males in their 20’s are the largest advocates of Vine and it seems to skew male overall based on responses. Older generations have never heard of it.

YIK YAK

College

Female 18: Yik Yak is funny on college campuses and in closed spaces but I don’t know why anyone else would use it.
Male 18: Failed attempt at anonymous Twitter.
Female 20: Some yaks are funny but a lot are rude I had the App for like a week but I deleted it.
Male 20: I don’t use it but I’m on it to see the posts. The posts are very funny.

Twenties

Female 22: Had it for a while, can be a huge downer and pretty mean.
Male 24: I follow them on twitter. I think they have something to do with college campuses. Funny quotes by students for students?
Male 26: No idea what this is…sounds like some form of game.
Female 29: WTF is this?

Thirties

Female 30: Never heard of this ever. Yik Yak patty whack?!
Male 31: huh?
Female 31: Never heard of it
Male 32: What – barf.
Male 35: I don’t use.
Female 38: huh? I’m officially old. Never heard of that.

Forties

Male 42: Isn’t that a breath mint?? Oh, that’s tic tac…no Yik Yak for me.
Female 42: Have never heard of it.
Female 45: Funny name but no clue as to what it is.
Male 45: What’s that? Not familiar with it. Am I missing anything?

Fifties

Female 51: Interesting college conversations.
Male 56: Haven’t heard of it.
Female 57: As a college counselor, it is – sadly – one way to have a sense of college environment.
Male 59: Isn’t that just for college kids? Not for me.

Sixties

Female 62: What is that?
Male 63: WTF is that.
Female 66: Nope.
Male 66: I don’t even want to know. Please resist the urge to tell me.

Seventies

Male 70: I do not use
Female 72: I do not use

Yik Yak Conclusion: Only college students are on Yik Yak and they acknowledge that it is both funny and mean. There is definitely something there similar to how Facebook was to connect with people in your college only to start, but Yik Yak needs more moderation – as an anonymous app can turn into a bullying app.

PINTEREST

pinterest_badge_red

College

Female 18: I don’t use it and I don’t really know exactly what it is.
Male 18: No idea what this is
Female 20: Love it! I am addicted. I use it for everything.
Male 20: I’m not on it.

Twenties

Female 22: LOVE LOVE LOVE, like my new Google
Male 24: I use it for holiday ideas, costumes, and great recipes
Male 26: I’m just confused by this. It’s like people overloading pictures and colors. I don’t get what the point is.
Female 29: Stopped using Pinterest after I got married. It was great for wedding DIY.

Thirties

Female 31: I use intermittently… sometimes I’ll go Pinterest crazy other times not touch it much. Mostly for photography, food and toddler/parenting ideas
Male 32: No
Male 35: I don’t use
Female 38: to keep track of my own ideas!

Forties

Male 42: Not on it.
Female 42: I used it once very recently. I am doing a report for my son of where I grew up and when I Googled stuff from Pinterest came up and I’m including it.
Female 45: Love it! Its a wonderful way to find great ideas! For instance, I use it to get ideas for my kids birthday parties, as well as home projects.
Male 45: Coming from the male end of the spectrum, haven’t used it much.

Fifties

Female 51: Cool ideas but I don’t like to pin or repin.
Male 56: Love it. It is good for tracking information that you want to save.
Female 57: Sometimes, great for inspiration.
Male 59: Eh. Too complicated. Not enough time in the day to curate all my stuff.

Sixties

Female 62: I’m not on it but people talk about it all the time. People learn how to plan things, how to make things. I have cooked recipes from it. It does sound like something that if I had more time I would want to be on.
Male 63: Heard about but never went past that
Female 66: Nope
Male 66: Looked interesting at first like a new dish on a menu, then doesn’t taste anywhere near as good as it looked.

Seventies

Male 70: I know what it is from my daughter, but I am not on it
Female 72: I do not use

Pinterest Conclusion: Pinterest has an interesting divide. Females in college and twenties enjoy it, and then females 45-60 use it. Most males said they categorize it as a girly thing, but one male in his 50’s says he uses it to keep track of information he likes similar to how some use Evernote. It will be interesting to see what happens to Pinterest due to this age divide. For now, we would say it’s definitely a good tool to use but make sure you are targeting the right age group.

WHATSAPP

College

Female 18: I use WhatsApp all the time for group messaging. It’s the fastest and most reliable messaging for international.
Male 18: Best messaging app on the face of the planet
Female 20: Great for when you are out of the country
Male 20: I used it while I was out of the country to text

Twenties

Female 22: Use only when I have friends abroad
Male 24: I use it to keep in touch with my friends who are in different countries. It’s the best.
Male 26: This was supposed to be the great way to communicate with people abroad but the whole world has iPhones so I just iMessage.
Female 29: Awesome for talking to friends in foreign countries!

Thirties

Female 31: Used to LOVE this when I still had a blackberry, don’t care now that I have an iPhone
Male 32: Never even heard of it
Male 35: Very good app, especially for international communication
Female 38: to talk to friends and family abroad or when i’m out of network

Forties

Male 42: Not on it.
Female 42: I am on it to talk to relatives in Paris
Female 45: Haven’t used this yet
Male 45: Another one I’m probably a bit too old for. I don’t live on my cell, so really don’t need anything that rich on my phone.

Fifties

Female 51: Great way to stay in contact across the pond
Male 56: Love it. It is excellent for texting overseas.
Female 57: Absolutely, when I am overseas
Male 59: Great app. Especially when traveling.

Sixties

Female 62: I use it a lot because of all my friends and relatives not in the US.
Male 63: Never use
Female 66: We have a family group to talk to my relatives in Israel. I like that one.
Male 66: whatsthis?

Seventies

Male 70: Not too much, how are you?
Female 72: I do not use

WhatsApp Conclusion: As long as phone plans continue to charge for texts abroad, WhatsApp is here to stay.

SNAPCHAT

College

Female 18: I go through phases. Sometimes I love it and sometimes it just annoys me.
Male 18: Great!
Female 20: Obsessed. Love using it when I am out with friends.
Male 20: I only ever send Snapchats of my dogs.

Twenties

Female 22: Use all the time, main form of communication with a lot of people. I hate the stories function though.
Male 24: I use it mainly for my close friends and family. It’s an outlet to just be silly. I also actually have really enjoyed the discover update. A great way to get snippets of news/cool info for the things I care about.
Male 26: I check it very frequently, and it’s a great way to send short videos. Pretty sure teenagers just use it to send nudies though.
Female 29: Pretty hilarious, but I don’t use it very often.

Thirties

Female 31: LOVE! Use it all the time for random stuff that’s not really ‘save’ worthy.
Male 32: I don’t use snapchat but i have seen it. 10 seconds of pg-13 vids you can sext to others? It may not be on your phone’s memory but we all know the government saves it for when you end up on that dateline special!
Male 35: It’s ok. Nothing great especially the Discover videos.
Female 38: Never used it / don’t really understand the point? If you’re going to send something that has to be deleted immediately, chances are you should not send it in the first place. #oldladyviews

Forties

Male 42: No, but my 13 year old daughter certainly does!
Female 42: I’ve heard of it but I’m not on it.
Female 45: I’m not on it.
Male 45: Another platform my kids are always messing around with. Though I’ve just now downloaded it to see what it’s about…. stay tuned 😉

Fifties

Female 51: Is fun and quick for an old lady.
Male 56: Brilliant model so you can protect yourself but I am not a current user.
Female 57: Fun to follow people I love.
Male 59: Fun. Love getting Snapchats from my kids. Use it for myself only occasionally. If I want to show somebody something I’ll Instagram it.

Sixties

Female 62: Yes! It’s fun! A lot of fun. I wish it lasted longer. I wish I could save it – that’s my only problem with it.
Male 63: Never use.
Female 66: What’s that? Why do you have to talk to people a million ways? Pick up the phone!!
Male 66: On it for to see stuff from my kids.

Seventies

Male: I do not use
Female 72: I do not use

Snapchat Conclusion: Out of the newer networks, this is the one that everyone seems to be on and has exuded the most excitement for. There is a gap in the 40’s but individuals both older and younger are big advocates of Snapchat. We expect big things in Snapchats future.

SOCIAL MEDIA AT EVERY AGE CONCLUSION: We don’t know if a conclusion is appropriate for this post as we all know Social media is an ever-changing medium. What is most interesting is that even though we are creatures of habit with Facebook being what we are most used to, Instagram and Snapchat are the ones people are most excited about for almost all age groups. What is their commonality? They are easy to use, about moderation, and do not require a lot of your time. On Instagram, people post max 2-3 times a day if they are traveling, but sometimes people only post once a week. Whereas on the flip side, Snapchat is an active medium where you post often, but you don’t have to worry about what you look like or put much input into what you say because it disappears.

Overall, this test of talking to people of all different ages as to what social media they use, proved our original hypothesis of one size does not fit all. Before launching your next campaign or creating your social media plan, take a step back. Go back to what your college professor told you to do (and how you proceeded to roll your eyes) and create an outline for your paper – with section A being audience analysis. Turns out, that professor was right.

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