Baby Boomers are Embracing Digital Media

In the U.S., 80 million baby boomers have turned 65 and are officially senior citizens...and many of them are turning to digital media. You don't believe me? Well, check out some of these statistics (from an article on Mashable):

• Social network use among Internet users 50+ years old has nearly doubled to 42% over the past year.
• In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 16 million people 55+ years old using Facebook.
• According to Nielsen data, 15% of people 55+ years of age are using smartphones
• A study found that around 13% of people aged 55-64 and 5% of people aged 65+ play games using a smartphone or standard cellphone
• 16% of people aged 50-64 have searched online for information on long-term care for an elderly or disabled person

One of the main reasons that an increasing number of senior citizens have started using social media is to connect with friends and loved ones, and also to shar

e experiences with strangers and new friends over the Internet.

In fact, more often then not, the reason that older people don't use social media ISN'T because of lack of interest, but instead because social media platforms have not been developed with these older people in mind.

With this in mind, there are a few key takeaways that every company should consider if they want to reach the "older" people through social media:

1. A growing number of old adults are taking advantage of the web right now...don't ignore them
2. As society and the web mature, companies and individuals need to make sure they are building the web to empower everyone, not just the young and tech-savvy
3. New technologies and new social media platforms will need to be intuitive and easy to use
4. When these new technologies and social media platforms are ready for use by the public, education is key to ensure senior citizens don't fall behind and become victims of the "digital divide"

In the end, senior citizens may be "old," but if companies want to maintain (and even increase) their success, they will need to develop social media strategies that allow senior citizens to easily use the platforms and technologies available to them.

Thank You Marquette...For Everything

It's late Sunday night as I sit here on my couch watching sports. And then it suddenly hit me...I'm going to be graduating in less than two months. I know it's an overly-used cliche, but it's amazing how time flies by when you're having fun. It feels like just yesterday I was stepping into my freshman dorm room at McCormick hall on Marquette University's campus, anxiously waiting to meet my freshman roommate for the first time while trying to console my mother who was on the verge of tears. Hanging up on a bulletin board in my room is a picture of my twin brother Ben and I with our mom, standing right outside my dorm room. It's amazing to look at that picture and see the long way that I have come in the past 4 years...

I have had the pleasure to meet many new people, make many new friends, and create many fond memories that I will carry with me forever. Who knew that I could have so much fun on such a small campus in such a wonderful city.

In the end of May, Ben and I will be the last of our siblings to graduate from Marquette University. Our other 5 siblings, which includes 2 other sets of twins, all had the pleasure of graduating from this fine establishment. However, Ben and I will be the only set of twins to graduate at the same time, which is such a wonderful way for our family's presence at this University to come to an end....at least until our own children reach college.

I guess what I wanted to share with you in this blog is my appreciation towards Marquette University. People say that college is the best 4 years of your life. As I approach the last couple months of my 4-year stay here at Marquette, I couldn't agree more with that statement. So thank you Marquette for everything that you have helped me to experience these past 4 years, I will never forget it. Now, on to the hectic job search.....