Who uses instant messaging? Reads blogs? Publishes blogs? Uses MySpace? Who buys stuff online or downloads videos?
Kids, right?
Piper Jaffray recently executed a survey of a sample of the 232 million Internet users in North America. By extrapolating the data, they estimate that over 100 million use instant messaging, over 100 million read blogs and almost 100 million participate in one or more social networking sites.
I assume there are close to 11 million teenagers in North America. So who is using all of these services?
You! You're coming home from work, putting the kids to bed and plugging in. It's interesting because many of you probably think about stuff like blogs as something you do, but that isn't that common. Fact is that it's way more common than people think.
[Joel: My quick assumption of 11 million teenager users was wrong. The data says there are actually closer to 30 million.]
That is very interesting. Where did you obtain the Piper Jaffray information? I'd be interested in seeing more of the analysis.
ReplyDelete[Joel: It's a printed study I can't re-publish. I couldn't find the same one on the Internet anywhere. Sorry.]
When dancing became a prime-time Saturday night event the Church realized that it couldn't suppress the urge but it could control the heat - hence Stake-sponsored Sat. night dances!
ReplyDeleteWhen you talk to the 15-24 crowd... the main thing they do online is IM-ing. Go ask some of the youth on Sunday.. they'll confirm it. They spend about 65+% of their online time using Instant Messaging.
Like dancing, there are some dangers for our youth if left to their own devices. Is there a way the Church can capitalize on this trend and "control the heat" so to speak?
How about IM bots? These are "Artificial Intelligent" IM agents that have auto-responders. Corporations use these for 24/7 support and FAQs. What if the church put up a virtual Joseph Smith IM bot? Or other personalities of church history?
Heck, this would be cool for all ages! The person could ask:
KidIM: "Where were you born?"
JosephSmithIM: Sharon, Vermont. Where were you born?
KidIM: "Oakland, CA"
JosephSmithIM: "California? That is quite a distance from Vermont. Amazing how much the Church has grown."
Interesting point. I just wish less were using MySpace - it's awful by just about any aesthetic standard a person could imagine.
ReplyDeleteJoel,
ReplyDeleteInteresting info. Where can we find the Piper Jaffray data? I searched but couldn't come up with it.
I question your assumption that there are about 11 million teenagers in North America. Census data has the US population at 281,421,906. Ten to 14-year olds make up 7.3 percent of that and 15 to 19-year-olds, another 7.2 percent. That means the teenage population must be closer to, say, 30 million.
Still, if there are really 100 million IMers etc., that means that 70 percent are adults. Who woulda thunk.
[Joel: You're right, John. I didn't have the study in front of me when I guessed 10 million. I just looked at the study which indicates that the number of teenagers is actually closer to 30M--same number you estimated.]
I'm nearing 40, but started in high tech right when the web was born in 1993 (when I got home from my mission and started working in the university computer labs). I do all those things you mentioned every day, but I'll admit to thinking that I was the exception for those over 30. I still run into lots of people that have no clue how to buy something on eBay but maybe I'll have to reset my expectations.
ReplyDeleteI may be off base on this but I kind of get the impression that a church oriented "IM Bot" would be perceived as being dorky by the youth and young adult crowd. However, a real person someone can talk to on the other end of such a thing might have credible value. I have personally known a few members who were shaky in converting from a borrowed testimony of the enviroment they were raised in, to one of their own strong enough to withstand the ills of the world. Sometimes for those coming of age it can be absolutely terrifying to consider seeing their bishop or another member that they've grown up with. There's a general fear of them disappointing the leaders who have always seen or perceived them as being the 'good mormon boy' in their years growing up. While it isn't the ideal enviroment to provide guideance, if someone will only speak anonymously then perhaps having someone available to answer their questions and encourage them to seek priesthood leadership isn't that bad of an idea. However, if it were merely automated and essentially unable to express genuine care and concern for the person's troubles, I doubt it would do any good.
ReplyDeleteI may be a dinasour to most of you, I started using the internet in 1975 (as Stanford), and later met my eternal companion through an IRC LDS chat room (10 years ago). When Spain had their first meeting to plan a country website, a moderated chat function was proposed. The reason the idea was shot down is the problem of liability. The risk of a lion in sheeps clothing is too great. Bots can not do it (yet), they can monitor words, but not ideas - then the users easily adapt to getting around them by "psuedo-swearing" if you get my forking point.
ReplyDeleteOK, so I must be the oldest...almost 60 and have been using every form of IM, IRC, etc. since all of it debuted. I IM my kids...the 4yr grandkid hasn't quite caught up to me, but I kept ahead of all my children until they became computer help desk people after high school. I must represent the other end of the spectrum and am still trying to drag the rest of my ward and stake (Stake Web Administrator) into the 21st century.....just give me the tools!
ReplyDeleteNope, 60 is not the oldest - there is a whole crowd of us over 65's, including many senior missionaries serving around the world, who are grateful for lds.org particularly for helps with district and branch training. Gospel Library, the music sites, 'serving in the Church' are accessed frequently to print out talks, teaching ideas etc. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have trouble finding what I want using the internal search and end up using Google Search - but I am not a tech guy - am a senior sister learning as I go.
Keep working on MOS - we need to be able to customize reports - the data is in there, but getting out what we need is the challenge.
All in all, the internet resources that are available now, compared to what we had to work with at the beginning of our first mission in 2002, are amazing and we are continually grateful.
I'm a Bishop in my ward and I use IM to keep in close contact with many of our youth. Oft times youth will open up there, where they are most comfortable, rather than in formal interviews or activities where everyone can see/hear. In fact, I prefer IM to the telephone and email.
ReplyDeleteGloria Hamson (http://www.ldscio.org/2007/06/05/the-myth-of-youth/#comment-1136) said she was the oldest at "over 65", and I can tell she's that old. Her spelling, punctuation, capitalization and grammar are correct. Now THAT is the true mark of a senior Saint using the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI'M HAPPY TO HAVE LEARNT ABOUT THIS SITE COS THROUGH THIS SITE,I'LL CONTINUE TO BE INSPIRED BY THE WORDS OF SISTER GLORIA HAMSON WHICH I LOST CONTACT WITH FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
ReplyDelete