If you’ve always bristled at use of the term “soccer moms” to describe a broad consumer segment of influential mothers, then you’ll welcome new research titled, “Digital Mom,” which breaks down users of digital media nto five categories.  The study from marketing agency Razorfish and online community CafeMom identifies five different types of online consumption.

The Five Digital Mom Profiles are:

the “Self Expresser” with a pre-school child, whose preferences are to discuss general family and parenting topics, to shop online for gear, and to interact via  personal online profile.

the “Utility Mom” is raising more than one child and will use the Internet for gaming and entertainment.

the  “Groupster” actively seeks to participate in and build social networks. She likes to obtain recommendations from those she trusts in her online circle of friends.

the “Info Seeker” is usually parenting an infant and needs specific information developed for new parents or for the needs of babies.

the “Hyperconnector” is a more experienced parent with older children. Her confidence shows in her desire to share her views with members of her online community.

The full “Digital Mom” report from Razorfish and CafeMom is available here: http://tinyurl.com/bw4ytn

The intention is admirable: make a difference in reducing the world’s carbon footprint by starting at home–or in the kitchen to be more precise.  But some eco-friendlies are taking green to the extreme.

The New York Times’ Steven Kurutz reports on families who have gone “cold turkey” by tossing out those kilowatt-sucking monsters, otherwise known as their refrigerators. They manage by substituting coolers to store a modest supply of perishable food and compact freezers for everything else.

Some experts are calling the move simply foolish because it will result in more consumption of petroleum for extra car drives to the market and wasteful packaging for smaller portions of food products.

For those not yet ready to eat unplugged, Kurutz offers some useful energy saving tips:

• Once a year, unplug the refrigerator and clean the door gaskets and compressor coils; if there are pets in the house, clean the coils every three months.

• Buy a refrigerator that has the freezer on top, a configuration that is more efficient than a side-by-side model (in part, because it is generally smaller). Also, choose an Energy Star-rated unit, which is up to 20 percent more efficient.

• Try not to open the door too often, to limit the frequency with which the compressor runs, and choose a model that comes with an alarm to warn that the door is ajar.

• Don’t place the refrigerator next to the oven or in a spot that receives direct sunlight. The higher the ambient temperature, the more the unit has to work to keep cool.

Could this be a marketer’s Blade Runner dream come true or urban redevelopment gone wrong?

Read and decide for yourself.