10/04/2023

Writing SMS for Different Generations: Millennials, Gen Z, and Beyond

Nil Chesky

With the rapid advancement of technology, communication styles have adapted to accommodate the preferences of different generations. Perhaps the most significant change is in the area of texting or SMS (Short Message Service). Baby boomers may still prefer phone calls for more detailed conversations, whereas millennials, Gen Z, and the upcoming generations might choose text messages for their numerous advantages: directness, convenience, and quick interchange. Today, we examine how to effectively write an SMS conversation that resonates with members of the millennial, Gen Z, and future generations.

Millennials, characterized as people born from 1981 to 1996, are considered digital pioneers. They witnessed the birth and evolution of social media, smartphones, and messaging apps. When you're writing SMS for millennials, you want to focus on three key elements: brevity, informality, and punctuality.

1. **Brevity:** Millennials appreciate short and concise messages, as they grew up in the era of character limitations on early social media platforms. When you send an SMS to a millennial, keep it simple, clear, and straight to the point.

2. **Informality:** Millennials resonate well with a casual and approachable tone. While they appreciate correct grammar and spelling, they're typically forgiving of a less formal texting style.

3. **Punctuality:** Always respect time. If you promised to send a text at a specific time, ensure you meet that deadline. Millennials, often juggling work, personal life, and social responsibilities, appreciate promptness.

Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2012, have an even closer relationship with the digital world. They are deemed digital natives. For this generation, digital communication is as natural as breathing. Here’s a guide to writing texts for the Gen Z populace:

1. **Tech-Savvy References:** Gen Z is very involved with the internet, memes, gaming, social platforms and technological advancement. You'd connect better with them if your SMS includes pop-culture or tech references.

2. **Visual Content:** Emojis, GIFs, stickers, and videos are Gen Z’s language. When texting this generation, it might be helpful to include emojis or links to relevant media to catch their interest.

3. **Value-Packed Messages:** Gen Z tends to be economically and socially aware. They appreciate texts that reflect real value — whether it's informative, entertaining, or thoughtful.

After Gen Z, the so-called Generation Alpha is starting to come into focus. Born from 2013 onwards, this generation is still largely undefined, but it’s not too early to draw some conclusions about how they might prefer their text messages:

1. **Mobile-friendly:** Gen Alpha is coming of age in a smartphone-dominated era. They will be adept at mobile usage from an early age and your texts need to be easily viewable and digestible on a mobile platform.

2. **Interactive Elements:** Embrace interactive elements such as polls or quizzes in your messages, as this generation will likely be more interactive.

3. **Environmentally-Conscious Messaging:** Given this generation’s projected engagement with the environment, showing awareness and care for ecological issues may help audiences connect with your messages better.

Understanding the different communication styles of millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha will help you connect with them more effectively. Remember, the key isn't to force yourself to write like them but to be aware of their preferences and nuances. By doing this, you'll be able to create meaningful text-message conversations that effectively reach and engage these audiences.

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