Did you know that adults still make up the majority of social networking site users? A survey in December 2008 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that the number of adult Internet users who have a profile on an online social network site has more than quadrupled since 2005 (from 8% to 35%).
Although adults make up the majority of social network users, younger online adults are more likely than older adults to use them: 75% of adults aged 18-24 vs. 7% of those 65+. The following chart shows US adult Internet users who have created a profile on a social networking site:
If you include occasional visitors to online social networks, in addition to those who have posted profiles, the number is 70.2% of US Internet users ages 15+, according to the following chart from comScore World Metrix:
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I might point out that Facebook started off targeting a non-teen audience. Originally, Facebook was a social site for college students, and they gradually opened it up for everyone.
it is interesting how many of my friends are now on facebook. I am 33 and never cared much about facebook in the past because I wasn’t a single young adult using it as part of my social life. But now that I’m interested in finding old roommates or high school chums, it really is a helpful way to keep in touch.
I think your article was the catalyst for getting me started on Facebook, Larry. I am an old blogger and had resisted Facebook for years until this past week. I am now amazed at how many people have connected with me from work and former ward members who have moved away. I am looking forward to re-connecting with many more former and present associates and friends. Thanks for this great encouraging article.
I’m a 63 yr old Grandma who got on Facebook first because my kids were on it. Then I started looking for other family members, friends, and HS and college friends. I love it! There aren’t that many my age yet, but I hope that with time, I can find lots more friends from my past.
Just for the sake of clarity, we should probably point out that the reason adults make up the majority of social networkers is because there are more adults than teens in the country. Here’s a quote from the Pew study: “Adults make up a larger portion of the US population than teens, which is why the 35% number represents a larger number of users than the 65% of online teens who also use online social networks.” So overall, social network sites are still more popular among teens than among adults. But what you’re saying is still valid and interesting.