Conference Board: 43% of Internet users now in social networks - Triangle Business Journal:

http://hisnameisrobz.com/2009/05/16/who-would-ever-use-this/
Of web users, 43 percent use a social networkinf website, up from 27 percent last year, the nonprofit global researchgroup said. in its quarterly Consumer Internet Barometer. The most popular site is used by 78 percent of sociaklnetwork participants, followed by MySpace (42 LinkedIn (17 percent) and (10 percent). The survety tracks about 10,000 Internet-equippex households nationwide. It said seniors age 55 and oldee are quickly increasing their use of social up from 6 percent last year to 19 percent this Women are more likely than men touse social-network sites (48 percenr versus 38 percent).
The majority of users log on at The ConferenceBoard said, with a quarter loggintg on at work, and 10 percent connectingf through their phone. More than half say they log on at leasg oncea day. ""Online social networkws are more than just a fad amon g theyounger generation," Lynn Franco, director of The Conferenced Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement "They've become an integral part of our personalp and professional lives. They’re an effectivwe way to keep in touchwith people, connect with friends and and network with colleagues. "Social media will also transfork marketing as weknow it.
They’re powerful communicatio tools, and are becoming an essential part of successfuplmarketing strategies." The survey said Facebook is equally popular among men and women, while womenj are more likely than men (47 percengt versus 35 percent) to use MySpace and more men than womenn (21 percent versus 15 percent) use Users of the micro-blogging site Twitter say their top reasons for "tweeting" are to connect with friends (42 update their status (29 percent), look for news (26 and for work-related reasons (22