AARP gains insight from younger generations

Getting old is inevitable. That's a fact. But what each generation cares about as they age differs greatly. AARP – the organization that offers products, advocacy, publications, and much more to people 50 years and older – knows how to keep up with the changing times.

In 2007, the organization challenged people between 18 and 30 to create videos that showed what they expected their lives to be like at age 50. And AARP conducted the entire contest on YouTube. Winners were announced in February 2008.

While the contest has been over for a year now, the videos are making their rounds virally. Take for instance the second place finisher – with more than 4 million views – it long surpassed the grand prize video and recently landed in my inbox.

The video is clever, well-written, and definitely worth sharing. And it made me learn more about an organization I wouldn't have given a second thought to – at least for another couple of decades.