I often check out MarketingCharts to observe online statistics and stumbled upon an interesting report from Gartner concerning Generation V last week.

This report attempts to outline and categorize internet users.  Apparently, we are either creators, contributors, opportunists or lurkers.

Although I agree for the most part, I’m not sure it’s that clear cut.  As for myself, I believe I have elements of each a creator, a contributor and an opportunist - I’m not sure who would admit to being a lurker (but that’s just me I suppose).  What about you?

These are the findings directly from the report:

Findings about these Generation V segments:

• Up to 3% will be creators, providing original content. They can be advocates that promote products and services.
• Between 3% and 10% will be contributors who add to the conversation, but don’t initiate it. They can recommend products and services as customers move through a buying process, looking for purchasing advice.
• Between 10% and 20% will be opportunists, who can further contributions regarding purchasing decisions. Opportunists can add value to a conversation that’s taking place while walking through a considered purchase.
• Approximately 80% will be lurkers, essentially spectators, who reap the rewards of online community input but absorb only what is being communicated. They can still implicitly contribute and indirectly validate value from the rest of the community. All users start out as lurker.

Please feel free to comment on this.  I’d love to see if I’m the only one who thinks these findings are slightly generalist.