One + - July 2010 - (Page 48)

Deborah Gardner, CMP You Be the Judge Who Owns Social, Anyway? Witness the ongoing brawl between Deborah Gardner (traditional communication expert), representing the baby boomers and mature generations, and James Spellos (technology expert), representing the young generation, in Round #2: “Battle of the Generation— Who’s Really Unplugged with Social Media?” at WEC in Vancouver on Tuesday, July 27, 2-3:30 p.m. You be the Judge! anxiety than what the mature generation has experienced. As the world’s population continues to move online, new concerns will arise that will confront earlier generations. Seems that all generations are beginning to witness a clash between the emergent generations that the entrenched THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD OF SOCIAL generations have thus far experienced to what I now call the budding generations. MEDIA HAS AFFECTED ALL FACETS OF For example, a mother (entrenched OUR LIVES, including the generation gap generation) and her daughter (emergent that continues to widen as technology generation) who has a 4-year-old son develops. So, who really owns “social” (budding generation) enjoy reading books. anyway? Some say the youth-obsessed However, the young boy prefers the tech world does. Social media is the touch-screen electronic Kindle format that power crutch they use to control their lives. Turns out, social media is also influ- holds hundreds of books. His learning technology precedes even his knowledge encing the mature generation through a of traditional math. The mother and her “forced learning” situation with technoldaughter may never comprehend what the ogy, whether using it or not. young boy will learn when he gets older. The baby boomer and mature generaIf you grow up with a certain technoltions’ concerns have always been their ogy, you have a different comfort level reputation. If technology is used, how than someone who had to learn somedoes it really benefit them, especially thing entirely new. Could this be the cause when conducting business? If not used of the continued growth of the generation correctly, it can haunt you. Look at Yougap? The bigger dilemma is the fact that Tube. The number of hits on YouTube can influence your reputation. People who technology has sped up generational difendorse their businesses on YouTube and ferences and continues to challenge us all. The baby boomers and mature generareceive tons of hits are considered popular; fewer than expected hits indicates that tions understand that technology is here to stay. Yet, if anything, they deserve to only friends and family are watching. be admired for embracing social media, Maybe the next generation will have even though forced. the answers. With access to different cultures, and services and numerous resources, a series of mini-generations are developing as mini-technology ideas are created. And the “what’s next” social appetite may just inevitably feed more BIO 48 one+ 07.10 DEBORAH GARDNER, CMP, is the principal and founder of DG INTERNATIONAL LLC and COMPETE BETTER NOW! LLC. She is a hospitality industry veteran, ASU project director for the MPI-CMP online study guide, past president of the MPI Arizona Sunbelt Chapter and a member of National Speakers Association.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of One + - July 2010

One+ - July 2010
In It Together
Contents
The Energy of Many
Impressions
Overheard
Agenda
Top Spots
Focus On
SoundOff
Hot Buzz
Art of Travel
Your Community
Making a Difference
Connections
Irrelevant
Refresh Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Who Owns Social, Anyway?/Embrace the Changing Pace
Penalty for Posting Event Videos Online
Improving Your Meeting Performance
Want to Kill Your Chances at Getting a Job?
A Natural Fit
Wearing the Green Crown
Off the Beaten Path
Cracking the Code
Clear Your Mindspace
There Is No Try
Grassroots Giving
Recognizing Market Transformation
Meet Where?

One + - July 2010