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Hyperconnected teens: The staggering statistics

By on February 26, 2009 in digital marketing, mobile marketing, social media, social networking, word of mouth

13-year-old Megan Pozgar, 2007 LG Texting Champion, won $25,000 for the word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

Much has been said about how connected Gen Y is. But I was shocked when I learned that teens with a cell phone average 2,272 text messages per month.

That’s works out to over 73 messages per day, or 4.5 per hour assuming eight hours of sleep. This is compared to an average of 203 calls per month, or a mere 6.5 calls per day.

Recent research has shown the average teen in the UK spends 31 hours online. That’s nine hours shy of a full-time job, folks.

Hyperconnected teens are always on and they are always talking—about everything. That includes the good, the bad and the ugly about your company and its products and services.

What’s more, Gen Y is huge. At about 76 million people, it’s about as big as the Baby Boomer generation.

Let’s just say it would be wise to stay on their good side.

This is the largest, most connected generation ever. It changes the game for everyone in marketing: To be responsible, marketing via web, social media and mobile devices simply can’t be considered an optional add-on anymore.

So, what do you think about all of this?

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Image: From Shaping Youth, 13-year-old Megan Pozgar, 2007 LG Texting Champion, won $25,000 for the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

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  • Martin

    This just makes me horribly, horribly sad. The question shouldn’t be how do we market to this insanely wired generation but how do we unplug these kids before we have the most dumbed down generation in history.

    All this connectivity available can be positive but numbers like this indicate nothing short of a sickness. 31 hours a week online? That’s tragic. There’s nothing positive about that.

  • http://www.thebobbypin.com Natalie

    I completely believe it. I mentor a group of 12 year olds in my church — and we cannot get them to pocket the phones! I feel bad because I feel like their teachers!! I try to not let it drive me crazy but it does — why can’t they put it away for an hour? We meet at 7 p.m. so they’ve had all afternoon to text away, but it doesn’t matter.

  • http://www.bretthummel.com Brett Hummel

    I think that there are positives and negatives to all new technologies. The important part is how can we balance the technology with the need for humans to physically interact. When you think about it, sending a message through the telegraph system in the 1800 s created the first leap in instant communication just as text messages make another jump today. That is why it is unfortunate to see comments like the first one because the technological jumps are no more radical than email was in the 90′s or even the mass adoption of PC’s in the 80′s.

    We must understand that the old way of communicating is dying, and in its place are text messages, IM, and to a smaller degree VOIP calls. To simply bury your head in the sand is the wrong approach because there is no turning back. What we can do is develop healthy ways to use the technology and impart those methods to parents who can then teach their children.

  • Robin L

    Here’s the deal.

    I’m 13 and, frankly, people need to stop freaking out. If nothing else texting keeps people connected, it doesn’t “dumb them down.” I don’t have texting, I do agree it can get out of hand, but it’s just another way of passing notes.

    Secondly, it depends on what we are doing online for 31 hours. I can guarantee that at least half of that time is doing homework. At my school we have a school-wide website that has all our homework assignments, emails from teachers and announcements. So really, what I;m saying is that you adults wouldn’t complain if you knew that we were doing, and you don’t know.

    Thirdly, we simply don’t have the kind of time to be chatting online or emailing friends for 31 hours a week. This may be specific to my school, but the majority of the students have sports that take up all the online time.

    As a 13 year old, I agree with Brett Hummel’s statement completely! Lol