A common concern regarding gamification is that managers are afraid of low usage rates among older employees. However, age should not be an issue as game elements have been incorporated into our lives for quite some time.
Gamification isn’t just for millennials, it’s an effective engagement solution for everyone. Smartphones have allowed games to be more accessible. In fact, 57.5% of US mobile users are projected to play games on their phones in 2014. The average age of game players is 30, with 36% of gamers over the age of 36. A 2011 poll of adults in America and the UK found that 73% of 33-45 year olds were open to having gamification incorporated into their lives.
People have a desire to be recognized for their work. In fact, a recent study found that “older workers want the same things other workers want: opportunities for learning, job clarity, workplace flexibility, and supervisors who show concern for their well-being and recognition for a job well done. When these job conditions are met, workers of all ages are more engaged.” With gamification, you can give your users the recognition and instant feedback that they desire.
People respond to competition for one simple reason: no matter how old you are, you don’t want to lose. It’s discouraging to see yourself at the bottom of the leaderboard and you will work to get yourself out of last place.
Overall, gamification can be a rewarding experience for people of all demographics. Most importantly, gamification needs to be well designed and catered to the user. A good experience is key for retaining long term engagement. Older users stress ease of use more than when assessing the usefulness of a system, so adjust accordingly.
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