If you are someone who thinks of Facebook as strictly a gathering place for college students and the uber young adult, look again. Earlier this month Facebook announced that its fastest growing segment of new users in recent months is women aged 55+.
According to Hitwise, there has been a big shift in audience demographics over just the past year. While users aged 18 to 24 represented a 42% share of the Facebook audience in January 2008, that segment in 2009 accounted for only 24%. Take a look at how the age distribution has evolved:
Are you on Facebook? Why? Why not?
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Hi Susan,
“Why Boomers Hijacked Facebook” is one of the cover headlines on Time’s February 23rd issue, VOL. 173, NO.7. The article title is “Facebook Is for Old People” by Lev Grossman.
A bit “tongue in cheek” (but still true), the article outlines 10 reasons why the parents of college kids have been able to utilize the site to great advantage.
One of the cutest is, “1) Facebook is about finding people you’ve lost track of. And, son, we’ve lost track of more people than you’ve ever met. Remember who you went to prom with junior year? See, we don’t. We’ve gone through multiple schools, jobs and marriages. Each one of those came with a complete cast of characters, most of whom we have forgotten existed, but Facebook never forgets.”
With one of the most telling being, “9) We don’t understand Twitter. Literally. It makes no sense to us.”
I just thought that was very timely post.
Thanks!
Karen E. Brennan
Facebook is definitely taking off, Susan, in a big way. And for good reason. Not only is it a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, but it is also a very effective — and efficient — social networking tool for professionals. Many business people who have been on LinkedIn for a long time are now realizing they should also have a presence on Facebook, too, for many of the same reasons.
Karen,
Thanks so much for your comments! The social media benefits to connecting are awesome. While I haven’t yet tried to find former prom dates, over the past few months I have been blown away by all the former colleagues I’m reconnecting with on LinkedIn, people who didn’t work in the same company, but who I built relationships with because we were serving the same clients. It’s heart warming.
I’ll have to take a look at the new Time issue.
All my best,
Susan
Bob,
You hit it on the nose, at least with me, how people who have been on LinkedIn are now realizing the value of a Facebook presence. I know that you have been watching all of this unfolding!
I appreciate your comments.
All my best,
Susan