The Pew Internet and American Life Project declares that American users have reached a social media milestone. Hooray! A whopping 65% of adult internet users have admitted a presence on a social networking site such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. 2010 only boasted a measly 61%. Young adults only increased their use by 1% up from 60% last year, but the Boomer-aged segment grew from 20% to 32%.
“The graying of social networking sites continues, but the oldest users are still far less likely to be making regular use of these tools. While seniors are testing the waters, many Baby Boomers are beginning to make a trip to the social media pool part of their daily routine.”
-Mary Madden, Senior Research Specialist and co-author of the report.
Social media magazines also reached their own milestone planning a launch circulation of 13.8 million. This goal will be reached in conjunction with partners EFactor and Pro2Pro Network. The four main magazines, FB & Business (Facebook), Tweeting & Business (Twitter), LI & Business(Linkedin), and The Big G & Business (Google) will host a wealth of influential social media and business minds. The magazines are designed to leverage the power of social media platforms, services that are vital in the business world today.
The numbers aren’t just high. Responses are positive as well. When social networking users were asked for one word to describe their experiences, “good” was the most common response. Research from the Pew Internet and American Life report shows users repeatedly described their experiences as “fun,” “great,” “interesting” and “convenient.” It’s important for the major social media platforms to be able to show both numbers and emotional reactions. In an increasingly competitive market, only a combination of the two will flourish.
