The Social Networking Generation Gap: Are we making a mistake?

At the Ypulse Mashup in San Francisco this summer, the focus was on teens – the tools they use, their mindset and how brands and services could most effectively reach this coveted market segment. One of the interesting things that came up during a discussion of social networking sites (SNS), is the fact that exclusively-youth social networking is largely a U.S. phenomenon (you might recognize a SNS by its street name: MySpace, Facebook, Bebo).

In other countries, SNS involve folks from all generations. At the Mashup, there were stories of places like China where intergenerational collaboration was resulting in young people getting business advice from experienced experts or learning about history from those who had lived through it.

The U.S. limitation (that’s my perception, the limitation part) is apparently a product of our “stranger danger” mentality. As a result, what we are seeing in the U.S. is the creation of “generational silos” in social networking. If you don’t believe me, take a look what the Baby Boomers are doing now. In an article in the NY Times last week, “the next big thing” appears to be the development of several new Boomer-oriented social networking sites.

As the U.S. venture capital companies sink their cash into the next wave of SNS, I feel just a little disappointed. I think we have a great opportunity to bridge the generations, to collaborate in a way that connects people through ideas and shared interests. This short story shares the observations of a man who overheard two grandparents talking to their teenage grandchild at a Starbucks. It is a delightful example of how technology can help us share experiences and close the generation gap (plus you gotta love any gramma that's packing an iPhone). Alas, if the U.S. becomes a culture of siloed communities, we all may be missing out.