The Growth Of Social Media (INFOGRAPHIC)

A new study suggests half of all American adults are now on social networks. In fact, out of American adults who use the Internet, Pew found that nearly two-thirds use social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Search Engine Journal agrees social media is here to stay, despite some dismissing it as a fad:

[T]ake a look below at the steep curve of the user growth rate in all age ranges and demographics, and the continuing pervasiveness of social networking into every facet of work, play and life in general. It’s hard to argue that social media hasn’t changed forever how we interact and connect online.

It's true that Twitter and Facebook have seen stunning growth in the last few years. Similarly, daily deals sites that are social in nature have seen exponential growth. There are also some convincing stats, such as 96% of millennials have joined a social network. These booming online communities have even inspired new social media-based maps.

Have a look at the growth of social media for yourself with the infographic below, via Search Engine Journal.

Source: The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic

Comments

[Kromainc]

04:35 PM on 10/26/2011

This infographic is great! Especially since someone took the time to include all social networking sites other than the big 3 (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).

[Firecracker29]

07:12 PM on 09/01/2011

I wish this showed Google+ stats as well. I would like to see how that compares to Facebook these days.

[soylentverde]

05:15 PM on 09/01/2011

Most people don't -visit- twitter because they use an app either on their phone or on their desktop to view the feed and to tweet. This data is skewed.

[brenobacci]

11:47 PM on 09/01/2011

I'm sorry fanboy, but you're skewed. Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Orkut... they all have HEAPS of API-based applications, to be accessed by mobile devices, TVs, gaming consoles and whatever...

I'm pretty sure what they mean by "visits" here is not what you think, like pageviews on the main domain or something.

I'm not saying Twitter is bad, neither that Facebook is good. I just don't like the constant alexjonesian approach to bashing statistics or reliable sources, when they don't fit your expectations or because you love a conspiracy.

[soylentverde]

12:11 PM on 09/02/2011

Congratulations on reading WAY too far into things

[Jenise Uehara Henrikson]

02:50 PM on 09/02/2011

Hi Soylentverde thanks for checking out our infographic!
The "49% of Twitter users rarely or never check Twitter" is from a Pew Research survey "In the follow-up questions on those October surveys, we found that Twitter users are nearly equally divided between those who check the site on a daily basis (or multiple times per day) and those who check the site infrequently or never."
My assumption is that "checking the site" would include checking via 3rd party apps, but it doesn't specifically say that. So we could read it either way. How about we say we are both right. :)

[gbdill]

04:17 PM on 09/01/2011

Facebook will have its day when it will be overshadowed by something more innovative and exciting. I remember when AOL was the best thing on the internet.

[The Truth Seeker]

04:41 PM on 09/01/2011

You may be right. However, I never remember AOL being anything other than a producer of CDs that were in aisles at the grocery store.

[Jenise Uehara Henrikson]

02:52 PM on 09/02/2011

Or in the mail, remember those metal cases? "Check it out, the internets now comes in a tin!"

[ogaraj]

10:02 AM on 09/02/2011

Facebook is already feeling the heat from G+ since its adopting its features... The problem is getting over 800 million people to change networks is no small task.

[Jenise Uehara Henrikson]

02:56 PM on 09/02/2011

True. Facebook has my profile's "history"-- old photos, comments etc etc.. and that's hard to walk away from. G+ needs an import button, but I think that's in Zuckerberg's "over my dead body" category.

[Jenise Uehara Henrikson]

03:11 PM on 09/02/2011

Too true. Facebook has all my profile history. When G+ has an "Import from Facebook" button I'll seriously consider switching over permanently. But I'm pretty sure that's in Zuckerberg's "over my dead body" list.

[Britishdemocrat]

01:42 PM on 09/01/2011

A very interesting info-graphic. What is striking is how many comments and shares there are in just 20 minutes of 2010.