Recently we detailed the gains made by social networking in 2008, according to Nielsen’s “Global Faces & Networked Places” report. Not surprisingly, the biggest gains in usage were in older demographics. In 2008 Facebook added more users in the 35-49 demo than in any other. Also, there were twice as many 50+ users who joined last year as there were in the under-18 segment.
Facebook’s changing profile attracts a lot of the headlines, but it’s only part of the story. The rise of social networks specifically targeting older users is the more significant part. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the number of US adults with a social networking profile increased from 7% in 2005 to 35% in 2008. Many keep multiple profiles, using sites like Facebook for personal reasons, and others like LinkedIn for professional purposes.
To read the entire "Tech Trends" for 5/25/09, click here.
