Younger user groups seem alienated by their parents joining Facebook
Facebook concerned as silver surfers take over
/v3-uk/news/1988773/facebook-concerned-silver-surfers
08 Jul 2009, Iain Thomson , V3
Facebook's audience is getting older, according to the latest figures from the company's iStrategyLabs advertising arm.
The data shows that users aged 55 and older grew by 513.7 per cent since January, compared to the 18-24 demographic that is prized by advertisers but which grew only 4.8 per cent.
The majority of the users on the site are now aged between 25 and 54, and this age group has grown by 190.2 per cent over the past six months to over 20 million users.
"The most troubling statistics we've seen are that there are 16.5 per cent less high school users, and 21.7 per cent less college users," said iStrategyLabs. "There have been rumours that these younger user groups are being alienated by their parents joining the service, and this data seems to prove it. "
It is possible that the current generation of users has graduated, and is moving on up the age range. But the statistics make worrying reading for the company.
Social networking sites like Friendster and MySpace showed strong initial growth followed by a dramatic tailing off. Facebook could be following the same model.
Overall Facebook has nearly 72 million users in the US, a growth rate of over 70 per cent for the past six months.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Lazy
If we're only looking at growth rates, I'll be concentrating my marketing efforts on Atlanta residents - at this rate of growth, they'll own the internet before long.
Did anyone really spend more than 10 minutes on this?
Posted by chris, 09 Jul 2009
Social networking sites are a security risk
"Younger user groups seem alienated by their parents joining Facebook"
And just so with all the security problems that arise from using such sites.....such as malicious code and ID related problems.
I am one of them parents.
Posted by Marky B, 09 Jul 2009
Lol!
Go learn math. That is probably the worst conclusion that could have been drawn from those statistics.
Posted by General Becos, 08 Jul 2009