Thursday, June 16, 2011

New research on social networking sites

We have a brand-new report out today that starts to explore the social impact of widespread use of social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. By the numbers:

79% of American adults use the internet, and 59% of online adults use at least one social networking site.
Among social networking site users in 2010, 92% are on Facebook; 29% use MySpace, 18% used LinkedIn and 13% use Twitter.
Specifically looking at Facebook, then, we found that the average Facebook user has 229 Facebook friends. The chart above shows the breakdown of those relationships.
The average age of adult social networking site users has shifted from 33 in 2008 to 38 in 2010.

The report looks at how people’s trust, personal relationships, and civic and political involvement are connected to their use of social network sites and other technologies. A few of the headlines:

The average user of a social networking site has more close ties and is half as likely to be socially isolated as the average American.
Internet users get more support from their social ties, and Facebook users get the most support.
Facebook users are much more politically engaged than most people.
MySpace users are more likely to be open to opposing points of view.