15 Reasons why the New generation uses Facebook

Don’t be surprised when I say that 81% of Generation Y (born between 1980 and 2000) use Facebook or that a whooping majority of Gen Z (born after 2000) are constantly ‘connected’, are emotionally attached to their devices and they prefer to connect online more than face to face.

Gen Y is now their 20s and Gen Z are now kids or getting into teens. Together they make the new generation. I am sure you have one of them near you -in all probability in your family as your son or daughter or in your school/colleges as students or in your organizations as an employee.

The new Generation feels that it is very important for them to stay connected. However since they are constrained with time, even as they call themselves a bit ‘socially lazy’, they prefer 'online' to stay connected. The new generation is heavily connected on social media, for personal, social and professional reasons.

Despite the advent of other instant messaging services, Facebook outscores everything else in social networking. My research on the new generation has thrown up reasons behind the continued popularity of Facebook . New Generations feels Facebook helps them to stay connected and use it for one or more reasons.

Here are the top 15 -

1. The new generation is generally curious and Facebook helps them to know what’s going on in the lives of others. It also helps them to know personal things about other people in a very impersonal way.
   
   
2. Facebook helps them stay abreast with the major life events of their friends and acquaintances.
   
   
3. It helps them to bridge the gap of distance and time that they suffer with their friends and remain in touch.
   
   
4. Facebook helps them to forge and nurture relationships. Birthday, anniversary wishing is very common.
   
   
5. Many use Facebook to engage with brands.
   
   
6. Facebook helps them improve their networking skills.
   
   
7. They use Facebook to maintain close friends-group camaraderie.
   
   
8. Facebook helps them compare their life and live an aspirational life.
   
   
9. At times even brag, boast and make others jealous or simply get the ‘Likes’.
   
   
10. Facebook helps them to know and share interesting stuff (updates - information, photos, selfies and jokes).
    
    
11. Helps them earn virtual currency (for example Facebook Credit, Farmville Cash and Microsoft Points).
    
    
12. Promote their work (Facebook pages).
    
    
13. Search lost friends.
    
    
14. Seek help.
    
    
15. Beat loneliness.

Some of them also use LinkedIn for professional networking. They also heavily use their smartphones and messaging apps like Whats App to stay connected. Many are constantly on Whats App.

What’s interesting is that the line between online and offline is blurring for the new generation and for them it is parallel existence in both these worlds. They find it strange when their parents, teachers or employers ask them to give up their gadgets, or come out of the online world or restrict their social media usage. For them the online and offline world are one and the same, one diffusing into the other.