Bridging The Gap: Intergenerational Perceptions Towards Professional Usage of Social Networking Websites

The purpose of this study was to identify the perception gap between Generation Y and older generations with regard to Social Networking Sites (SNS). Particular emphasis was placed upon applications within a professional setting. An overview of the generation gap and other phenomena provided the theoretical framework towards addressing this issue. An empirical study was conducted, with two separate surveys employed (one for Faculty and one for Undergraduates) to answer the following question: Do different generations perceive the same “value” to Social Networking Websites? Responses gathered from Undergraduates/Faculty at the University of Maine, Orono helped to answer this question. Results provided new insight into intergenerational perceptions of SNS use within the workplace, along with viable avenues for future implementation. Keywords: Social Networking, SN