"There are massive changes going on in society, particulary among young people who feel comfortable sharing information in a digital society. We seem to be getting into a period where people are closely watching each other…we haven't begun to grapple with."

Kevin Bankkston, staff lawyer, Electronic Frontier Foundation | San Jose Mercury News, 29 October 2007

Clay Harris, 25-year-old freelance marketing executive in Memphis TN said he uses Beacon Buddy http://www.helio.com/#services_gps "mostly to stay in touch with his friend Gregory Lotz." Upon returning from a trip, several friends showed up unannounced at a bar, suprising Harris, "He tried to reach me but I didn't hear my phone ring. He[Lotz] just show up and I thought, 'Wow, this is great!'"

Clay Harris quoted in the San Jose Mercury News, 29 October 2007

We maintain that whatever teens and young adults use to create and cement social interactions eventually becomes part of the fabric of the larger society. Most older adults do not remember the invincibility of their youths.

This means that market-makers with consumer-oriented offerings must like user adoption to the socialization patterns of young adults. And put aside the fears and concerns of adulthood. The kids will do whatever they decide to do. If it proves negative, they will change on a moment's notice. No harm. No foul. Just get on with it.

These speech acts above enable us to introduce three basic youth-market strategies. Use with care.

1) Fashion accessory for 13-year-old girls.
Think iMacs and iPods. Whatever the girls consider cool, the boys will surely follow.

2) Hook-up facilitator for 18-year-old boys mired in college dorm rooms. Think text messaging. Think Facebook with mobile alerts. Most guys this age have difficulty introducing themselves to attractive girls. And once introduced, you know, take it the next level, and the one after that, and so on.

3) Productivity badge for a new 20-something knowledge-worker. Think Blackberry or Treo. Even if I don't know how this business thing really works, I get my emails and schedule stuff faster than my boss. ;-)

Market-making youth strategies speed the socialization process of young adults. They care about really simple, primal things.