Americans age 18-34, or "Generation C" as they've been recently dubbed, make up 23% of the US population* but they comprise an outsized proportion of consumers who watch online video (27%), visit social networking sites and blogs (27%), own a tablet (33%), and use a smartphone (39%), according to a report by Nielsen and NM Incite.
The "C" in Generation C (AKA Gen Y) stands for "connected."
"Born sometime between the launch of the VCR and the commercialization of the Internet," writes Nielsen, Gen C consumes more digital content than any other age group—particularly via mobile devices.
Below, additional findings from The State of the Media: Report of US Digital Consumers, by Nielsen and NM Incite.
Mobile Media Consumption
One-third (33%) of all tablet owners are members of Gen C, as are 39% of smartphone owners, the highest adoption levels among all age groups.
In terms of ethnicity, whites have the highest adoption levels of smartphones and tablets: 61% of smartphone owners are white, as are 60% of tablet owners.
Hispanics make up the next largest group of smartphone owners (17%) and tablet owners (15%), followed by African-Americans and Asian-Americans.
Online Video, Social Networking
Gen-X adults (those now age 35-49) slightly outpace younger Gen-C audiences in online video viewing (28%) and social networking and blog use (28%).
Similarly, online video viewing and social networking use is highest among whites: 78% of online video viewers are white, as are 79% of visitors to social networks and blogs.
Hispanics make up the next largest group of online video users (12%) and social networkers (12%), followed by African-Americans (11% and 10%, respectively).
Mobile Social Users
Gen C is far more likely than other age groups to use a wide variety of channels—particularly mobile devices—to access social networks:
- 58.8% of Gen C access social sites via mobile phone, compared with 36.3% of those age 35-54, and 12.6% of those age 55+.
- Gen C is two times more likely than Gen X to access social sites via e-reader, 2.9% vs. 1.4%.
Gen C is also far more likely than other age groups to access social networks via iPads and gaming consoles.
*According to 2010 US Census data.
Note: For the purposes of this study, members of Generation C are those now age 18-34. As with other demographic terms, definitions vary. For example, Booz & Co. defines Generation C as people born after 1990.
About the data: Findings are from Nielsen's State of the Media Report of US Digital Consumers for the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2011.
