MUMBAI: India’s Post Millennials is set to overtake Gen Y on taking communication over social networks like Facebook and Twitter and instant messaging modes like Whatsapp to newer extremes, according to the findings of the TCS survey 2012-13.
A recent first-of-its kind nationwide 2012-13 study by IT giant TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) among 17,500 high school students across 14 cities showed that “smart devices and unprecedented levels of online access are making this generation the most connected yet.”
Post Millennials broadly refers to the demographic born from 1996 and afterwards, when the Millennial generation (1975 to 1995) or generation Y (Gen Y) ended.
Among the TCS findings, 92 percent used Facebook, 84 percent had access to the internet at home, 65 percent owned a mobile phone with 59 percent owning a smartphone and 54 percent having an Android-run smartphone.
On consumption front, 62 percent used the media to buy movie tickets, and 37 percent shopped on line. Shopping list included books/DVDs/music and airline/train tickets with respondents in metros more fashion conscious and shopping more for clothes and accessories.
Nearly three out of four students cited “Research for School” as the main reason to access the Internet followed by social reasons like chatting/connecting with friends (62 percent).
“Still, Post-Millennials are showing themselves to be even more focused than Millennials, with accessing email growing as a preference (49 percent vs 44.54 percent in 2011-12) at the cost of listening to music (45.47 percent vs 50.27 percent in 2011-12).”
Use of cybercafes as an online access point dropped dramatically, falling from 46 percent in 2009 to 14 percent cent.
Nearly one in five respondents spend between a whopping 2-3 hours on the Internet daily, while one in four spent between 1-2 hours.
Social networks like Facebook are clear favorite among Post-Millennials to connect with their peers with 92 percent of the respondents preferring this social platform. Preference for Facebook is equally high among respondents in both metros (92 percent) and mini metros (91 percent). Other social platforms like Orkut have taken a backseat with a 28 percent preference.
Tweeting as a medium of communication is now being used by one in three Post Millennials though only two percent listed it as their preferred site.
Tablet ownership made an entry this year with 38 percent owning a device, with 40 percent metro-based respondents owning one compared with 35 percent in mini metros.
“Urban school students today are gaining greater online access with more affordable bandwidth and smart devices on offer. They are an ultra-connected generation, using the power of the internet for education as well as collaborating through social networks and building virtual communities. As significant employers of India’s talented youth, it is important for us to understand these social and digital trends to create engaging careers for this generation,” TCS CEO & MD N Chandrasekaran said.