After reading the article, "Generation Y" and listening to the podcast The MySpace Generation, I am left with a feeling of agreement, but also finding some dissimilarity between my generation and the material presented. It seems to me that the article sets up Gen Y as a group of people who do not want to be advertised to. I don't know that I agree with this entirely. I feel that it would be more true to say not that we are not looking to be advertised to, but that we want advertising that is fresh, unique, and straight-forward. Trite as it may be, our generation has the world at our fingertips and can research anything and everything within minutes. I feel that this is part of the reason that we are so concerned with purchasing products that we can research ahead of time. In my opinion, I see that my generation, myself in particular, goes to the Internet to find the menu to a restaurant, watch movie trailers, research sizes of a dress, and find out the nearest Starbuck's. We are constantly searching for things on the Internet. That is why it is so important for companies to have information on a detailed, easy to navigate website. I know, for example, that if I am thinking of trying a new restaurant, I search it on the Internet ahead of time. If I can't find any information on the restaurant, then I will not try the place. I like to see what they offer or maybe if people have reviewed it. I am not going to waste my time trying a new restaurant when I can go to a place that has food that I know appeals to me.
Another important element that companies and marketers need to notice about Gen Y is that we are very complex and diverse. The article mentions that Levi's are not the hit jean anymore, like they were to our baby boomer parents. That is because we are more intricate. There are so many more types of people that want completely different things. You can't just go to the store and pick up a pair of jeans in your size; they must be the right wash, the right rise, the right cut, pockets, etc. That is why the niche and specialty stores seem to thrive in our generation. These stores appeal to every different type of person. The emo kid, the prep, the hipster, the punk, the outdoorsy, the jock, the brain, and the goth can all find a store that appeals to them.
I also feel that another important factor to note of Gen Y, and possibly the main difference between this group and past generations, is the abundance of social networks that we are involved in. Since MySpace and Facebook are increasingly popular, it is crucial that the marketers tap into this trend. The sites are a form of direct marketing and possible the most rapidly growing form of direct marketing. The popularity of MySpace can best be shown with an example of celebrities who were discovered via this channel. Colbie Caillat and Tila Tequila both became extremely popular through MySpace. This proves that if these social networks can make a regular person into a star, they would also be great ways to promote the latest energy drink, hippest vacuum, or newest blockbuster.
I feel that I am a pretty good example of the typical Gen Yer, with a few exceptions. I am involved in both MySpace and Facebook. I also use the digital world for just about everything. I think it is important to note; however, that although I am a member of Generation Y, I still sometimes use a land line phone, take handwritten notes in a spiral, and even watch the occasional VHS tape.
