networking

Social networking sites in the U.S. accounted for more than 20 percent of all display ads viewed online in July, with MySpace and Facebook combining to serve more than 80 percent of ads, according to a new report from comScore. "Over the past few years, social networking has become one of the most popular online activities, accounting for a significant portion of the time Internet users spend online and the pages they consume," said Jeff Hackett, comScore senior vice president.

Interesting survey results come from Common Sense Media, which suggest that social networking is changing the very nature of childhood.

With all of the talk regarding social media it seems that the inordinate amount of the attention goes to the big 2; Facebook and Twitter. While they do tend to generate significant drama and even some real news there is more to the social media space. In fact, there are those who see the social media universe fragmenting into very specific verticals so those of like mind can gather online without having to see that your friend just had a great breath of air.

Online Canadian teens are significantly more likely to have a social network profile than online Canadian adults, according to a new study from, Ipsos Reid. Over three-quarters (76%) of online Canadian teens ages 12-17 now have a social network profile up from 50 percent in 2007. The rate of increase is higher than that for the online adult population, which increased from 39 percent to 56 percent over the same time period.

We all know that social networking is where it's at these days, but it's not all about the ones everybody knows - the Facebooks, the MySpaces, the Twitters, etc. At the recent Social Media Club gathering in Louisville, Chris Brogan discussed what he calls "velvet rope" social networks. Have you ever participated in an exclusive social network? Discuss your experience.

Explore how regional social media clubs are revolutionizing networking by emphasizing local connections and community-driven events.

April saw Americans flock online for the latest information related to the swine flu, causing traffic to surge at CDC.gov, according to new data from comScore. The month also saw visits to social networking sites reach record numbers, driven by growth at Twitter and Facebook, as well as an increase in visits to real estate and home-related sites as the spring prompted many Americans to consider home improvements. The tax category also experienced strong growth due to the April 15 deadline.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that social networking is popular. According to Nielsen Online, it’s become a whole lot more popular. From December 2007 to December 2008, social networks or blogs account for nearly 10% of all Internet time, and the “Member Communities” category of sites surpassed the email category in Internet popularity, measured by time on site.