What Millennials Assume About the Print Industry

Predictions concerning the demise of the print industry have been floating around for the last several decades. Ongoing comments like “print is dead,” and the utopian idea of the “paperless office” served to help solidify the notion that printers and copiers faced extinction in the minds of many of the Millennial Generation. While experience shows that the printed page is still irreplaceable for many business purposes, the following assumptions seem to persist.

No Need for Paper Products

While it is true that technology has reduced many uses of paper—checks, invoices and bank statements, for example—the growth of other products have made up the difference. Sales figures support the idea that people still prefer printed books and magazines to the online versions. While e-readers have come into their own, most people enjoy the tactile feel of the printed page.

No Future in Printing

A common belief among Millennials is that as the associated technologies improve, the print industry will eventually face its demise. The facts show the reverse is true. As printing technology advances, the industry is doing a great job of marketing more creative and affordable uses for printing to the general public.

Everything on Phone or Computer

Smartphones and computers are wonderful ways to share information. However, it is unlikely that they will ever be able to entirely replace the printed page as humanity's preferred method of learning. The connection to physical markings on a page stretch back deep into our roots, and the relationship is too strong to be broken anytime soon.