Skepticism is slow suicide. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
If Ralph were alive today, I’d buy him a Venti 7 Pump White Mocha no Whip to thank him for that quote. Alas, he’s long gone, but I’d lay down money that the American philosopher and poet would’ve been a social networking maniac.
You can walk away from my bet on Ralph, but don’t be so quick to dismiss social networking as merely a playground for teens, 20-somethings and the mega-brands who chase them.
For goodness sakes, don’t take my word for it. Pretty soon your own parents may have more online friends than you or your teenage nephew.
Do, however, heed my warning that you can’t afford to be naive (or pompous) about social networks and their inevitable relevance to your business.
The following 3 links will take you to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, one of seven projects at the Pew Research Center.
Seniors finding social networking exhilarating
The largest percentage increase in Internet use since 2005 has been in the 70-to-75 age group, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
Adults and social network websites
While media coverage and policy attention focus heavily on how children and young adults use social network sites, adults still make up the bulk of the users of these websites.
Generations online in 2009
Over half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past.
Filed under: Marketing Tagged: | Demographics, LinkedIn, Marketing, Pew Research, social networking
Kelli,
Your timing on this post is impeccable. With your permission, I am going to reference it in a presentation I am giving on Friday. Great research and insight, as always!
Of course you have my permission, Ken. I’m thrilled that you can put Pew’s great research to work.
Thanks for bringing this study to my attention. I’ll do a deep dive! : )
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