Latin America. According to the latest study by The Competitive Intelligence Unit, the process of technological adoption has been so accelerated in recent years that for the first time it has managed to permeate massively in all age segments of the population. However, there are still significant differences in segmenting access to and use of ICT applications and devices between different age groups.
Generation "Z"
It is the youngest generation, made up of people under the age of 21, who currently represent 27.6% of the country's total population. Users of this generation are distinguished by a high adoption of smart devices, such that 91.2% have a smartphone and 26.6% with a tablet. Despite mainly using low-end equipment, they register an average expenditure on smartphones ($2,822 pesos) and 92.4% of mobile users in this population group contract services under the prepaid modality.
Generation Z identifies a low average monthly expenditure on mobile services (ARPU) equal to $ 91.7 pesos, which they allocate almost entirely to have mobile connectivity and complement with access to WiFi networks. In turn, they show a high preference and use of instant messaging applications (94.2%) and social networks (92.0%).
Millennials
It is the segment of the population that is between 21 and 30 years old, reaching an approximate proportion of 16.7% of the total population. It is characterized by registering an intensive and growing profile in the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), being the only group of digital natives with their own purchasing power.
Currently, 92.9% of Millennials have a Smartphone, these being the most intensive in their adoption and those who allocate the highest average expenditure on their purchase ($3,136 pesos). Likewise, 23.8% own a tablet and allocated on average $4,606 pesos to obtain it. In turn, this population segment allocates a greater amount in the purchase of these devices compared to people of Generation Z.
Millennials preferentially choose written communication through digital platforms, such that 86.7% access social networks. As for the use of Mobile Broadband (BAM), 43.2% have access to mobile internet and make intensive use of this technology, consequently they have greater access (96.2%) to the different instant messaging applications.
Generation "X"
In this generation are people between 31 and 50 years old and are equivalent to 27.2% of the population. Generation X people have easily adapted to technological advances, such that 82% of mobile users own a Smartphone and 22.4% have a tablet. It highlights that these users register the highest expenditure on tablets ($4,923 pesos), since, unlike people of other age profiles, they prefer to buy devices from recognized brands.
Baby Boomers
It is the segment that groups people over 50 years of age and represent 19.6% of the population. Despite the fact that adoption in people of this age range registers a greater growth, they still profile a lower access compared to the other age groups.
It should be noted that, having a greater purchasing power, the average expenditure on mobile telecommunications of people in this segment is higher ($134.5 pesos per month) than that of the most recent generations. However, its use on internet platforms is significantly lower compared to other age profiles, excluding the use of instant messaging, such that the adoption coefficient amounts to 84.5% among Internet users of this generation.
It is possible to notice that technological progress has triggered the adoption of ICT applications and devices in all segments of the population, with a shrinking access gap between the different generational profiles. From this, it is possible to spread and access grow the benefits of connectivity among the population, such as digital education among younger generations or access to digital health tools among Baby Boomers.
