In the ideal human resources world, employees would eagerly anticipate each benefits update, jumping at the chance to try the corporate intranet’s new self-service features or to pore through a detailed newsletter. Employees would read every benefits communication with zeal as they sat down, set work aside, and focused on the information before them. The reality of today’s employee is much different. Today’s employees get instant messages on their mobile phones while riding the bus and reading their e-mail. Many news channels integrate with online communities such as Facebook and Twitter.

The following five media trends go beyond influencing what is new or hip; they are fundamentally changing the way the world communicates. These trends are:

1. digitization and convergence,

2. user-generated content,

3. social networking,

4. personalization and customization, and

5. gaming. Communication today is fast-paced and plentiful.

(Source: Employee Benefit Plan Review, May 1, 2009)