It’s estimated that by 2019, there will be over 2 billion people using social media around the world. The world’s population is currently 7.6 billion – meaning that over 25% of the future world will be social media users.

While some may think that only young generation use social media, the numbers tell a different story. Although 88% of 18-29 years olds engage in social media, some 64% of those aged 50-64 are also users.

So what generation is deemed the social media generation? The short answer is all of them. It just depends on the platform and the level of engagement you’re talking about.

Keep reading to find out more about the social media habits of Generation Z all the way to the Baby Boomers.

Generation Z

Generation Z is the group of individuals born between 1996 and 2015. They currently fall between the ages of 3 and 22. They are the newest wave of social media users around the world.

Those born in Generation Z grew up with technology in the digital age. They know computers and the how to use the internet better than any other generation. Perhaps it’s this attachment that leads 51% of people aged 18-24 to say they would have a difficult time giving up social media.

However, Generation Z interacts with social media differently than other generations. They have short attention spans and use social media as a way to fill their time. For this generation, social media is a source of entertainment and not a way to find useful tips, express their views or stay in touch with friends and family.

That’s why 18-24-year-olds in Generation Z are more likely to use Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. In fact, 78% of people falling in this age bracket use Snapchat. What’s more, 71% use it more than once per day.

Twitter is another favorite of this age group. Of all Twitter users, 45% fall between 18 and 24. This content is brief and easily digestible, making it perfect for those looking for a quick source of entertainment.

But of all the social media platforms, Generation Z is most drawn to YouTube. With 94% of 18-24’s using YouTube for their video content, it’s clearly the preferred content of this generation.

Millennials

The Millenial generation was born between 1977 and 1995. They range between 23 and 41 years old.

While the earlier half of this generation didn’t grow up with computers, the latter half did. This makes this group’s social media use diverse. For example, while those aged 18-29 use up to 4 social media platforms, only 3 platforms are used by people aged 30-49.

Although they’re difficult to study due to the variations in age and technological influence, this generation is larger than any other. As such, they’re the most influential group on social media today. 78% of those aged 30 to 49 are social media users in some way or another.

Millennials tend to use social media to voice their opinions. They spend an average of 2 hours and 39 minutes engaging with social media every day.

Not one of the more popular social media platforms, LinkedIn is particularly used by Millenials. 38% of Millenials see LinkedIn as a good way to develop their professional life.

This generation is also fans of Snapchat. The majority of Millenials check this platform daily. This may be linked the same short attention spans characterizing Generation Z – Snapchat gives users the ability to choose the content they view, and it’s almost always in video form.

Generation X

Those falling in Generation X were born between 1965 and 1976. Their ages range between 42 and 53 years old.

Although social media use tends to decrease with age, this generation still makes up a large portion of social media users. Of those aged 50 to 64, 64% are using 1 of 8 social media platforms.

What’s more, 1/3rd of people aged 50 and older say that it would be hard for them to give up social media. And these individuals are also more likely than any other generation to share content.

For marketers interested in using social media to sell their product or service, this is an important age group to target. They have more disposable income than the generations that came after them. Because of their willingness to share, marketers can spread the word about their brand quickly with this generation.

If you’re a marketer using social media for conversions, find out more about advertising to the different generations.

Baby Boomers

The last generation on our list is the Baby Boomers. These people were born between 1946 and 1964. The age group they cover is 54 to 72.

Baby Boomers make up the smallest portion of social media users. And yet, 37% of people aged 65 or older use some form of social media. Of the whole generation, 91% report that they have a social media account, at the very least.

The way that Baby Boomers use social media is different than other generations. They prefer a lot of content, which makes them more likely to use Facebook than any other platform. This gives them a chance to share opinions and values with friends and family.

In fact, the Baby Boomer generation checks Facebook more often than those in Generation X as well as Millenials. While only 5% of them use Twitter, which has far less content.

Which is the Social Media Generation?

Across all generations, social media usage is growing. It can be said that every generation is a social media generation – it’s just the way they use social media that differs.

Generation Z is more likely to use platforms that don’t require a significant degree of their engagement. This is why Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are the most popular with this generation.

On the other hand, Millenials and Gen X’ers are similar in their social media use. Although Millenials are more likely to use Snapchat than the generation that precedes them, both have a high-level engagement across multiple platforms.

Surprisingly, even Baby Boomers enjoy using social media. This generation is most likely to have a Facebook account and not to stray too far from that platform. As a generation that was introduced to computer technology later in life, they like what they know.

For more interesting information about our technological world, check out our amazing science blog.