This article is an excerpt from the book Fundamentals of Technology Project Management (Second Edition) published in September 2012 by MC Press.
Written by Colleen Garton
Is there a social media/virtual communication generation gap? I would say that the answer is yes. This does not mean that I think one generation is more adept with the tools than another. The adoption rate of the various social media tools differs between generations. What is considered good etiquette for one generation may be quite different for another. The cultural effect of social media also differs between generations. In general, different generations use social media in a slightly different way. One way is not necessarily better than another. However, in a professional environment, it is important to ensure that team members are using appropriate tools and using them in a professional manner. If you are aware of the differences in how your team members use social media, you can help them learn from each other. This will increase communication effectiveness for your entire team.