4 Ways Millennials Have Changed University Communication

Duke Chung, Parature

The large majority of college students today represent the millennial generation. In fact, if you were born between the mid-1980’s and the early 2000’s, you have been deemed a millennial, and have earned yourself a distinct reputation for the sheer amount of information and media you consume. If you’re like the average millennial, you likely grew up texting, using search engines over dictionaries, finding answers in online portals and chats, texting friends instead of calling and utilizing social media to find information in real time. You can get answers without ever picking up the phone.

And now your school must make serious changes based on your communication style. In fact the millennial generation has spurred on a new wave of communication technologies implemented by universities and colleges across the U.S. Here are 4 ways millennials have incited new communication styles, and what universities should be doing to accommodate.

Communication must be in real-time. In this day and age, breaking university news must happen in real time. From campus security threats to inclement weather, students need to stay informed to stay safe. With the recent winter storms in many parts of the U.S., some universities used Twitter to let students know whether classes were canceled, and students turned to their university’s page to find answers in real time. Utilizing Facebook and Twitter enables students to receive news from their school as it happens.

Millennials want answers now. According to a Nielsen study featured on the Parature blog, 42% of 18 to 34-year-olds expect customer support on social media within 12 hours of a comment or complaint. In addition to seeking real-time updates and news on social channels, Millennials expect that social channels will serve as a platform for communication, and that a response will be given promptly.

Flocking to the Internet.  According to a Sitel study, when Millennials have a problem with something, 71% of 16 to 24-year-olds and 65% of 25 to 34-year-olds search for a solution online first. This is why universities have to keep their website content organized, brief and easily digestible, and should feature screenshots, video and engaging multimedia whenever possible. The more accessible a web and mobile site is, the more likely students are to find answers and return to the page in the future.

Goodbye dictionaries, hello Google. If you are like the average millennial, you expect to be able to get information instantaneously by using search engines like Google. By having a well-organized and searchable website, students can grab information from the university site as easily as they do from Google. Universities must index their content by using keywords, image titles and article titles most aligned to what students want to read and common search terms.

You’ve grown up in a world where technology has never stopped evolving and where communication is constant and instantaneous—so why should it stop while you’re continuing your education? Your generation is driving a positive change among universities, and it won’t stop evolving the more you continue to drive it. So keep asking questions, and continue growing and learning—and your university will support you as you do.

By Duke Chung, Parature