The narrowing social networking generation gap
by Celine Roque
Pew Internet has just released the result of another study, this time on social networking trends for adults in the US. It seems like adult Americans are catching up fast, with those having an online profile increasing to 35%, up from just 8% three years ago. Although that number is still much behind their teen counterparts, it’s an indication that social networking is now being taken more seriously by older generations.
The most popular destination is MySpace, with 50% of adult users having a profile on the site, followed by Facebook as a far second with 22%, which is a little surprising for me because I’ve always thought of Facebook as attracting a more grown-up crowd. As for third place, the title belongs to LinkedIn with 6%, which has a strong following among professionals.
The survey also found that the median age of MySpace users is 27 years old, while it was 26 for Facebook. Not surprisingly, the median age for LinkedIn users is 40. Additionally, LinkedIn users are statistically more likely to be white, male, and at least have a college degree.
Adults are not only participating, 51% of social networkers have two or more profiles online. The primary allure is still personal rather than professional. Most of those surveyed said they use these keep up with friends (89%), make plans with friends (57%), or to make new friends (49%).
The likelihood of belonging to a social network understandably decreases with age. Among those between 18-24, 75% have an online profile, while for those between 25-34, the number falls to 57%. Furthermore, individuals aged 35-44 have a 30% chance of being in a social network, down to 19% for people between 45-54, to 10% for those between 55-64, and finally, 7% for adults who are 65 and older.
The complete report can be found on Pew Internet’s website here.
Thought...
