Generations of the digital age

Currently, the world has six generations of the digital age.

There are six different generations of the digital age, but they all have shared characteristics. These generations are divided by different elements: values, behaviors, traits, and profiles of people who share the same age range were taken into consideration.

However, even if they are in the same category, it does not imply that these people should behave in the exact same way, at least from the point of view on how they communicate, buy and use new technologies.

The millennial mindset, lifestyle, or characteristics, for example, go beyond the 30-something-year-olds, as millennial is aspirational for older generations and inspirational for younger ones. Today, it is increasingly common to meet people over 50 who acquire habits typically associated with millennials.

These six generations come from the year 1952 up to the present, and are accepted worldwide to be divided as follows:

• Silent Generation

Some people know this generation as the building generation. They were born between 1944 and 1952, so they are currently between 74 and 93 years old. This generation lived through the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War with its consequent wars. Thanks to their time lived in wars, this generation values teamwork and sacrifice of achieving goals.

Despite being the oldest generation, they have managed to adapt to new times and tech such as mobiles, tablets, the internet, and other technological changes. However, it is a generation that cares much more about issues related to health, the economy, and domestic problems.

In relation to technology, they care little about privacy, meaning that this group is excessively open to sharing personal data. A generation that is committed to voice interaction and is greatly influenced by the family. These are the main consumers of digital information.

• Baby Boomers

The generation of those born in 1945 and 1964. They are the ones who have undergone the greatest changes in their lives. Currently, they are people between 54 and 73 years old, consumers with greater potential since they consider that they have a very high purchasing power, which has allowed them to adapt very well to new technologies.

This generation is known as the stereotypical “seniors”, people who are far from digital changes. However, they are the main consumers of the social media Facebook, although their numbers have increased in relation to Instagram. Undoubtedly, it is the generation with the greatest presence in social networks during the last year, with a percentage of 48%.

The main activity they do digitally is filling out surveys and questionnaires, as well as reading blogs and watching videos about products and services. Their main source of information is through search engines, and it is a generation that rarely shares personal information and selfies.

Health is their biggest concern, which is why they use a lot of apps that deal with health topics and staying physically active.

• Generation X

The youth generation of the 80s, those born between 1965 and 1979 that are currently between 39 and 53 years old. A generation that shares many characteristics with millennials. Among their technological advances, we find that they were the ones who saw the arrival of CDs, Walkman, and the personal computer.

Additionally, this generation is known as the one that enjoyed sharing the arrival of the internet with playing outdoors. Among their technological tastes are social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Their instant communication methods are WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger. However, their favorites are telephone and mail.

Generation X are the top consumers of online shopping. A person in this group can carry out up to 19 transactions during a year.

• Generation Y

The millennial generation are those born between 1980s and 2000s, aged 18 to 38. They are the ones who experienced the turn of the century, so they do not perceive the online and offline world as two universes with different realities.

From all generations of the digital age, this is values experience more than products. 

They are people who live without the illusion of controlling the future, who love to work in what they’re passionate about and motivated. As for social media, they share their lifestyle and most special moments.

In addition, they are the first to discover and share new products, spaces, or concepts with their followers, mainly on Instagram.

They don’t use Facebook much, and on Twitter, they ensure that their messages are well-supported in the 140 available characters. This generation has turned social networks into a platform to build a brand, be ambassadors for others, and promote those with whom they best identify, as long as they are real options for their followers.

Privacy doesn’t concern them at all, they decide what parts of their personal data they get to share through different digital platforms.

• Generation Z

They were born in the internet era, between 2001 and 2017. Mobile phones and tablets were part of their growing up, which is why they are considered natural elements with which they use on a day-to-day basis.

This generation is classified for being multicultural, sharing characteristics with many, thanks to their access to the world. They like to discover things on their own. Watch videos, memes, emoticons, and TV formats like Netflix.

They spend a lot of time on social networks, although parents and family members try to minimize this in order to avoid risks.

Their mobile phone is their main form of communication, their preferred networks for this generation are Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram. On those social medias, they get information and interactive content with which they feel capable of creating, connecting and sharing. This generation is influenced by their idols, whether they are singers, actors, YouTubers or TikTokers.

70% of parents consult this of generation before making purchases through different online platforms.

• Alpha Generation

These kids are a complete digital generation, they were born from the year 2011. They have grown up with the greatest changes in terms of technology, so they consider that they cannot live without technology.

This is one of the generations of the digital age that most needs support when it comes to technology. Mostly, to ensure that they consume age appropriate content and in which they acquire good knowledge.

The Alpha generation, like the millennials, are being raised with very great cognitive and intellectual capacities, and they need constant supervision so that they influence themselves in the right way.

Despite not reading on social networks, this generation is capable of consuming content, especially through YouTube.

Having this information is very important in able to understand the digital differences between these generations, as well as to have knowledge of usual behavior of a person with the aforementioned ages.

These divisions of generations of the digital age allow us to determine how each of them communicate, work and buy.

What generation do you belong to?

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