Winning Online

The New York Times ran an article today about how kid’s online social networking of today should not be considered a waste of time - or worse, a waste of mind.  By seemlessly moving between the Myspaces, Facebooks, etc. they are inherently learning how to manage and creatively think about the platforms of now and the future.  Older generation execs and decision-makers sit in conference rooms strategizing how to use these social networks, but typically have no actual working knowledge or expertise in how they work.  Younger gens who grow up with it, know it because it is an integral part of their everyday lives and in many ways is the lifeblood of their communications with peers.

“It may look as though kids are wasting a lot of time hanging out with new media, whether it’s on MySpace or sending instant messages,” said Mizuko Ito, lead researcher on the study, “Living and Learning With New Media.” “But their participation is giving them the technological skills and literacy they need to succeed in the contemporary world. They’re learning how to get along with others, how to manage a public identity, how to create a home page.”

This is the best foundation for creative, intuitive, and smart marketing of the future.  Social media is now so ubiquitous to life for those growing up today that they seemlessly weave it into their general education.  They don’t even know that they are actually building the skill-sets to thrive as the world moves forward.