My friends at Resource Interacted developed a great report on technology and Gen Y called Decoding the Digital Millennials.

Key findings about the Connected Gen Y group include that they:

- are connected — online all the time. We have a tendency to think it just by Instant Messaging, but these guys live and breath with their mobile phone. And if you think they are increasingly using email, you are wrong. Email usage is flat

- like to make lots of decisions together. They are good collaborators and prefer not to work independently

- multitasks all the time, but is productive. The consume media like never before. 77% still watch TV, but 74% surf the Web, 71% listen to music, 54% listen to radio, 37% watch videos/DVDs, and 29% play video games (source: Harris Interactive)

- filter anything that is not relevant

- pride themselves on self-expression, as long as their identify is still tied to the group

- are optimistic

- feel entitled

The Resource Interactive survey reminds us to keep it real, be original, provide a dose of entertainment, and listen to what they have to say.

OK.. check out the survey. It is must for all marketers!

I was really surprised to see that Sugar Ray Carmelo Anthony only get a 15 day fine for his role in last weeks free for all at Madison Square Garden. Yes, I know the Knicks started ‘it’, but as a superstar, you have to be able to control yourself. Kind of like the same issue politicians have when their life is scrutinized by the press. I have to admit that I am also concerned that Carmelo has also been joined by Allen Iverson, who even though has cleaned up his act recently, doesn’t have the best history. So this am, one of my friends — who is also an old fuddy-duddy — told me that they do not make starts anymore like they used to. That these guys are not like the Jordans, the Magics, and the Birds. This made me wonder if today’s younger folks do IN FACT think of Wades (who from what I can tell is is a great person) and the James. (Who is just a great player, although I prefer Wade) as the best players of all time.

To tell you truth, I really only bring this up because it seems as if we often think ‘things were better when we were kids.’ I hear this over and over and I am of the school that if you hear something over and over, it might not be true. So, it would be interesting to pulse today’s youth and see how they think about today’s sports’ stars.

Oh yea. One more thing. I think these guys are the today’s true star athletes.. and how to really play hoops in Madison Square Garden.

Wilder

Being a native New Yorker, I have a little bit of a ‘tude’ (yes, that is a term from my generation) and am skeptical when it comes to paying for services, such as research reports. Veritis Communciations* just came out with a new report that states Gen Y is turning to the Web first when making a purchase. While it is probably to quantify it (and do something statistically signficant), I am surprised that they would highlight this as revelation. They did say that 38% of Gen Y men turn to the web, followed by Ad Inserts, TV. For Gen Y women, Magazinges and catalogs are feeling the impact. OK - I have to ask the question. What are people reading in the bathroom these days.???? Another big revelation was that Price place a big role in their purchases. No comment. I will let you check out the survey yourself.

OK — I will be serious. My question for you all? What do you think are the best research services and publications for Gen Y info.

* I would have linked to their site but after several Google searches I could not find it.