Pew has just released a new report, examining the online habits of different age groups. Teens are most likely to play games online, and those of us who are under 30 use the Internet for social networking (and games). Older generations are more likely to use the Internet for research, banking and shopping. While social networking is popular, its “twin”, the virtual world, is only used by 10 % of teens, and 1-2 % of the older population. In other words, Second Life might not be the best place to start if you are initiating an e-participation program. The number of teens visiting government web sites is so small that it falls outside the survey’s margin of error.
Does this mean that e-participation aimed at teens should be game-related? Or is it more proof that social networking sites needs to be used to spread government information and for e-participation? And if we initiate e-participation as a game, what consqences will this have for teens when they grow older and have to stop playing? politics is serious business, after all.
it is also interesting to note that even among 64-72 year olds, 56 % are Internet users, but very few over the age of 44 are users of social networks. E-participation through social networks will in other words receive attention from a relatively narrow and small group of the total population. I am not saying we shouldn’t go there, but politicians and officials needs to be aware what age groups are likely to respond through social networks.
