Sharing and the generations X and Y

The widespread availability of fast internet and smartphones is essential. Peer to peer rental relies heavily on technology. Many of the services are intended to be used on the move, providing instant access to facilities at an immediate time of need. The downloaded apps make creative use of interconnectivity with maps, location information and instant payment methods, most of which have only come into common use in the last few years.

Young people in particular are making use of shared services.  Known as "Generation Y," they have been raised within the time where they have constant access to technology. Computers, mobile phones, the internet were all part of their youth and are more comfortable with it. It is noticeable that its mostly young people who are Airbnb hosts, even where whole houses are offered as available, it’s usually young individuals working or travelling abroad.

The same is true for those seeking temporary office space. OfficeRiders sees most future expansion coming from the growth in "millennial" co-workers in their 20s and 30s. Often those letting the spaces are also young professionals out at work all day and needing the extra money.

Smartphones are less frequently owned and sharing applications less likely to be used by older generations. Having a family means it's less practical to have spontaneous lives, they are more likely to plan ahead and make use of more familiar purchasing methods. Companies reinforce this trend with designs and marketing aimed at the young. car2go for example, provides a car sharing service in European and North American cities and only uses 2 seater cars - effectively barring those with families.

The Y generation also have fewer physical possessions, they use file sharing rather than have racks of CDs, Kindle rather than shelves of books. Computer games for older generations were seen as time wasting, anti-social, even geeky. But if you haven't a history of dealing with the vagaries of computers, of using similar interfaces and techy language, the software apps are confusing even daunting.

Mike, at 55 years old, is typical of a generation that hasn't been inculcated in this connected world. Early retirement from working in an industry where technology isn’t central to his job means he has hardly advanced beyond sending the occasional short text message or looking at news sites. The result is that he is frequently put off using apps that seem overly complicated or require frequent interaction. Likewise, Sharon, a teacher at a primary school, rarely uses a computer and does little more than message and call from her phone. To her, the idea of paying through a contact less card, never mind an online wallet, is horrifying.