Although hesitant to give up my old ways

(I have long been a Palm Pilot warrior, paired with a basic cell phone), I recently joined the iPhone nation and haven’t looked back. But it got me thinking: if different generations communicate in different ways, how do they communicate with one another? I asked around town.

My son Adam is 26 and, as you’d imagine, uses text, Twitter and Facebook to communicate. I’ve always preferred him to call me on the phone. Whenever I call, though, he doesn’t answer. Sometimes he’s legitimately busy, but sometimes, Adam tells me, he’s just not up for a live conversation. So he’s forced my hand and fingers: this spring, I bought my first iPhone (Angry Birds is everything people said it was) and Adam has taught me how to text. I’ve found we communicate more across our generational boundaries.

Essentially all twentysomethings, a whopping 95 percent, own a mobile device (cell or smartphone). Pew Research estimates that figure drops to about 85 percent by age 60, then drops off drastically after that. About 70 percent of twentysomethings own a laptop, while around 45 percent of users between 47 to 65 own one.

Kevin Puma is a friend and coworker at Cobb Technologies in Richmond. He’s 59 and has two sons in their 20s and a daughter around 30. Despite his techno-savvy (he owns a smartphone and knows his way around a laptop), his kids know he prefers talking on the phone. So they’ve adapted to his way of communication. He says their conversations are more meaningful than text.

My friend Will Winston is director of sales and marketing at TechnoMarketing, a promotional items company in Richmond. Will is recently married and has no children (yet…you just wait, Will). His dad is in his 60s and mom is a bit younger, and many of his customers are in the 50-60 age range. Will rarely picks up a phone, but he’s in constant communication. Leave a voicemail and it’ll be days before you hear back (no one in that age bracket bothers with voicemails). Text and ask him to call, and you’ll hear back within seconds. I should know as I do so with Will frequently.

Will’s dad uses Facebook and the entire family communicates through the social media network. As someone in his 50s, I find it so interesting that younger generations will carry on long conversations through text. They reveal their true feelings through texting. They feel safe and in control. They don’t feel put on the spot like a live phone conversation requires.

In regard to mobile devices, more 30-40 year olds use tablets to communicate than do twentysomethings or 50-60 year olds, who use smartphones only half as much as twentysomethings. Clearly, data shows that if you are young and communicating with individuals over age 65, it’s likely you’re picking up a phone.

Can all these different generations figure out a way to communicate with each other? Oh yes we can. Some lessons for each of us:

– Twentysomethings: continue to text 50-60 year olds, and mentor us along the way so both generations feel connected. And pick up the darn phone when us old guys come calling.
– 30-40 year olds: Keep on like you’re doing. Just pick up the phone.
– 50-60 year olds: Learn from younger generations and embrace the way that today’s world communicates. Those in my generation are really starting to open their minds to how these new forms of communication work. We want to be taught, and we are ready to learn.
– 65+: We’ll call you.

I have a good feeling that with the innovation and creativity we have here in Greater Richmond, the generations will teach and mentor one other in the best way to help us all feel better connected.