Digital immigrant

So I did the Pew Reseach Centre’s Millennial test a couple of minutes ago and I have a ‘millennial score’ of 79%. This means I really am a digital immigrant.

You get the option to revise your answers to see your hypothetical score if you had answered differently.

In the past 24 hours, did you watch more than an hour of television programming, or not?

I don’t watch television much, and no, I didn’t watch much last night. Changing this answer to a ‘yes’ lowered my score. But in a world of PVR, should they not rephrase the question a bit?

In the past 24 hours, did you read a daily newspaper, or not?

They could’ve phrased this question a bit better. I’m assuming they want to know whether you’ve read a physical newspaper as opposed to an online one. I only sometimes buy a physical newspaper; I prefer reading online. But I used to subscribe to a few newspapers until last year. Changing this answer to a ‘yes’ lowered my score.

In the past 24 hours, did you play video games, or not?

I’d like to know what they define as ‘video games’. Is Lexulous on Scrabble a ‘video game’? If so, then my answer is yes. Video games need not just be first person shooter games. Changing this answer to a ‘yes’ raised my score.

Thinking about your telephone use, do you have…

Only a landline phone in your home Only a cell phone Both a landline and cell phone

So I get a lower score because I have both: I have Telkom ADSL and it kinda makes sense to use the landline from time to time. Changing this answer to ‘only a cell phone’ raised my score.

In the past 24 hours, about how many text messages, if any, did you send or receive on your cell phone?

No text messages on your cell phone in the past 24 hours 1 to 9 text messages 10 to 49 text messages 50 or more text messages

I don’t have my Sony Ericsson with me today but I know I sent more than 10 messages yesterday. Changing this answer to ’50 or more’ raised my score.

How important is being successful in a high-paying career or profession to you personally?

One of the most important things Very important but not the most Somewhat important Not important

It’s ‘very important but not the most’ important thing to me. So millennials value their career a lot because my score increased when I changed the answer to ‘one of the most important things.’

Do you think more people of different races marrying each other is a…

Good thing for society Bad thing for society Doesn’t make much difference for society

I would’ve chosen option D — ‘It’s neither good nor bad for society’. Not everyone gets married but we all have and want friends. I have few white friends and I sometimes wish this could change. But you become friends with people who are in close proximity to you — you work, live or play together. And right now that just aint happening.

But I chose option A — ‘Good thing for society’ in the end.

In the past 12 months, have you contacted a government official, or not? This contact could have been in person, by phone, by letter, by sending an email, or posting a message on their website or social networking page.

Yes, contacted a government official in past 12 months No, did not contact a government official in past 12 months

I responded to two of Helen Zille’s tweets last year and this year. And this means that I have a lower score. Why? Especially now that governments are invading the online space. Why would this hypothetical millennial not contact government officials?

Have you ever created your own profile on any social networking site such as MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, or haven’t you done this?

Yes, have created profile No, have not created profile

Yeah, and it’s funny that I deleted two of those profiles. But I’m back on Facebook for a bit or so.

How important is living a very religious life to you personally?

One of the most important things Very important but not the most Somewhat important Not important

I said it aint important. It’s also interesting that heathens score higher. Why do they assume that millennials do not value religion highly?

Were your parents married during most of the time you were growing up, or not?

Married Not married (includes divorced, separated, widowed or never married)

This is a difficult question because my biological dad never remarried. My mom remarried when I was 5 years old. So which answer should I choose? I chose number one. Oh, and changing the answer to ‘not married’ ups your score.

Do you have a tattoo, or not?

Yes No

Funny question, this one. What does tattoos have to do with being a millennial? I know 38-year-olds with tattoos. A shit load of them. But no, I don’t have any tattoos. Changing your answer to a ‘yes’ ups your score.

Do you have a piercing in a place other than your earlobe, or not?

Yes No

I would’ve chosen ‘not anymore’ or ‘not yet’. I used to have a nose piercing and I’m itching to get a new one. But once again, this isn’t just something that millennials do.

In general, would you describe your political views as…

Conservative Moderate Liberal

Funny, this. I’m kinda sure you can get conservative millennials, moderate millennials, and liberal millennials. I chose ‘liberal’, though I’m really a mix of conservative and liberal.

What is your age?

Under 18 18-29 30-45 46-64 65+

I chose ‘under 18′ because I don’t look a day older than 16