Geezer Tweets

GUEST BLOG POSTING-- Occasionally, I turn over the reins of the Viz Witch Blog to someone I trust to impart their own wisdom and Viz-witchery - usually happens when I get just plain lazy. But, lucky you, I only associate with the smartest, most professional, and "entertaining" sorts. Read this post by Jim Alexander (his creds are at the end). You'll like it even if you aren't a "Geezer."....take it away Jim...

When the herd shifts direction, watch out. More than just your toes can get pinched.

Geezers, my peeps, have been accused, not without some justification, of sucking all the air out of the room for the past 50 years or so. Our sheer numbers and penchant for pursuing what we want, when we want it, makes us a force to reckon with. And, as luck would have it, we are not quite finished. The siren call of the social web beckons.

Both circumstantial and direct evidence supports the notion of Geezers overrunning the social web. iStrategy Labs informs us that the fastest growing demographic on Facebook, increasing an astonishing 922.7% between Jan 2009 & Jan 2010 is the 55+ set. 34% of the users on Plaxo and 16% of the users on Twitter are over the age of 50. This is repeated across social media.

If you follow the social web these statistics may not be news, nor surprise you in any event. But, before you move on the the next best thing you should step back a bit and ponder the implications of all these Geezers traipsing around in social media. Comprising roughly 25% of the U.S. population the Geezer incursion into the mainstream social web, already underway, will form a juggernaut destined to shape it's development for the next 20 years.

Net It Out: What little nuance exists in social media today, it will need to be even less going forward. Geezers, as a whole, have less intellectual resilience and flexibility than their younger counterparts.

Dumb Down The Experience: While geezers continue to pile into Facebook they complain vociferously about the complexity of the platform. Look for the user interface to be softened, streamlined and come standard with way bigger buttons. Other platform developers will follow (or perhaps lead).

Sell What To Whom: As Geezers move towards retirement, consumer spending patterns will be disrupted. Look for a big push in the social web to market and cater to them as they twaddle off into the sunset with sizable chunks of the national treasure. Follow the money.

Savvy business types will no doubt stumble to this and work around the clock to keep the customer (Geezers) satisfied. That sure to divert resources away from the development of the next MySpace. Sorry kiddies.

Still, everyone can expect to gain at least passing entertainment value as Geezers continue to amuse in social media in ever greater numbers.

Geezer Manifesto

Even though you are a Facebook friend Geezers reserve the right to mindlessly send you email after email inviting you to please join Facebook so you may look at their new photos.

Geezers don't see why (and have no intention of capitulating on this) it is considered bad form to string 4 or 5 tweets together if that's what it takes to fully complete a thought. I mean, just who came up with this silly 140 character limit anyway?

Geezers are going to tweet/update when drunk and/or when the med's kick in. We're old, we've earned it. Deal with it!

Geezers are going to offer embarrassingly heartfelt prayers, in their status updates and comments, for the health, recovery, returning to fold, etc. of their children and good friends.

Geezers will “sign” their tweets and updates just to be sure you know it's really them.

The Baby Boomer ride is, not only not over, it's just getting good and started on the social web. Stick around it's only going to get more interesting.

Personally, I can't wait for the new “Shuffleboard” app on the iPhone and the “Whack My Walker” game on Facebook.

Author: Jim Alexander

Jim, a partner at RealSMM LLC, a social marketing firm, runs the Socially Mediated Blog and is a Geezer beach boy, kicking sand & staying tanned in sunny Treasure Island, FL (Click to follow him on this Twitter embed)