Every generation has its own set of challenges when it comes to adopting new technologies.
The difficulty of adoption is often based on how the technology impacts the user. If a new piece of technology requires them to change their habits or adopt a new way of thinking, adoption can be challenging. That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities.
As we’ll see, Millennials have taken a more cautious approach to adopting new technologies than previous generations, but that’s also posed some unique advantages for companies looking to serve this demographic.
Let’s take a look at how millennials are changing technology usage and what businesses should know about reaching this important cohort in the coming years.
What Defines Millennials?
The easiest way to understand millennials is to understand the historical context of this generation. Millennials have always been digital natives, meaning that they’ve grown up with technology.
The first millennial was born in 1982, so these individuals have always been surrounded by digital devices — from computers to smartphones. This has had a dramatic impact on their adoption of new technologies compared to previous generations. That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities.
But let’s take a look at some of the specific demographic data that defines the millennial generation. Millennials are generally the individuals born between 1982 and 2004. This generation is extremely diverse, making this the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in U.S. history. Millennials are also the most educated generation to date, making up more than 40% of U.S. undergraduates.
Why Are Millennials Changing Technology Usage?
Millennials are a cautious generation, and that mixes with their comfort with technology to create a unique adoption curve for new technologies. That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities.
One reason millennials are changing technology usage is their overall caution. This generation has grown up during economic downturns, natural disasters, and other crises that have made them risk-averse.
They’re also less likely to have children than previous generations, meaning they have less financial and familial risk factors that make adopting new technologies risky.
Because millennials are cautious, they’re more likely to adopt technologies that have been proven over time to be safe and effective. This means industries like healthcare and finance, which have a reputation for being slow to adopt new technologies, are great industries for millennials.
## Voice Commands and Virtual Assistants
One of the most important technologies for how millennials are changing technology usage is the rise of voice commands and virtual assistants.
Millennials are more comfortable than other generations with talking to their devices, meaning that chatbots, voice commands, and virtual assistants are important tools for this group.
Millennials are also more likely to use multiple assistants, like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri. This is opposed to baby boomers, who typically use one assistant.
This is important because it shows how millennials are more likely to be open to mixing and matching services. This is a significant change from the sentiment of this generation when they first entered the workforce.
Millennials were often criticized for being a generation of technology jack-of-all-trades. But this willingness to combine and match services is part of how millennials are changing technology usage. It means that if one virtual assistant has an outage, or if a millennial uses two assistants, they’re less likely to worry about being stranded. This is also true of other technologies and devices.
Digital Currency and Blockchain
One technology that is expected to drive major change, especially for how millennials are changing technology usage, is blockchain.
Blockchain is a distributed ledger that is primarily used for digital currency like bitcoin. The benefit of blockchain is that it helps create a secure and transparent system for storing data and making transactions.
Businesses are already starting to explore how they can use blockchain to improve efficiency and security. That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities.
Part of how millennials are changing technology usage is by being more open to and interested in new technologies like blockchain. Millennials are more likely to study computer science than other generations, and they’re more likely to work in STEM fields. That’s why millennials are great for driving interest and adoption of new technologies like blockchain.
## Mobile Apps and Games
Mobile apps and games are two areas where millennials are likely to continue to drive change. Millennials are far more likely than other generations to prefer gaming on a console or PC over a console. They’re also more likely to prefer gaming on a mobile device. This is likely due to their comfort with and preference for handheld devices. This is significant because gaming and mobile apps have been two of the biggest drivers of technology adoption over the past decade. Millennials are likely to continue to drive significant change in these industries.
That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities. Mobile apps and gaming are two areas where millennials are likely to continue to drive change. That’s why when it comes to how millennials are changing technology usage, this generation presents some unique challenges and opportunities.
Wrapping Up
Millennials are a cautious generation, but they’re also technology users who are open to exploring new technologies. This makes millennials an important demographic for businesses looking to adopt new technologies. As we’ve seen, millennials have taken a more cautious approach to adopting new technologies than previous generations, but that’s also posed some unique advantages for companies looking to serve this demographic.
Ultimately, how millennials are changing technology usage will play a significant role in how businesses are run in the coming years. Businesses need to be aware of how millennials are changing the way they interact with technology and the different ways they prefer to be engaged.