Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter
Social networking use in the US by the grandparents crowd is on the rise yet again. According to a new Pew Internet report, the number of Internet users born before John F. Kennedy took the Oval Office who now regularly go on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks has nearly doubled in recent months.
According to the report, the fastest growing age group were users aged 65 and older with 26% participating in social networking. The frequency of use has also increased, with one in five users aged 50-64 accessing social media every day along with 13% of 65+ users, which represents a 10% growth from a year ago for both groups. Twitter is getting more popular too, with one in ten of the 50-plus demographic reporting that they tweet regularly.
These positive numbers shouldn’t come as a surprise. In February, 2009, Inside Facebook published a report showing that the number of women users aged 55 and up doubled since September 2008. Clearly the growth trend in older users has mirrored the growth in “Facebook-friending-your-mom” anxiety.
What does this mean for brands online? Companies that court the older generation will have to invest more heavily in social media marketing. For example, take the social media strides of AARP, the membership organization looking-out for retirees. Its Facebook page is seeing slow but steady growth as it tops 16,000 fans.
How is AARP connecting with its swelling fan base? It has created a well-structured and connected page with detail that gets users talking, as can be seen in the screenshot of its wall bellow.
Meanwhile, the AARP Twitter page with 2,200 followers is being used as both an inspirational announcement board and as an online membership hot-line.
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Fastest-growing usage segment of #Facebook, #Twitter? 50-plus demo. http://bit.ly/bmBcGi
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Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter | SMI: Social networking use in the US by the grandparents crowd … http://bit.ly/au1Rr5
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Very interesting! “Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter” via @socialinfluence http://bit.ly/cbqgGh
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Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter (via my6sense) http://tinyurl.com/35plntc
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Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter http://ow.ly/1qOsJi
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Why your Grandma loves Facebook! #facebook http://ht.ly/2wGAT
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Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter http://bit.ly/cbqgGh
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[...] F. Kennedy ) dat gebruik maakt van social media in de VS, in de afgelopen is verdubbeld. Dat meldt Social Media Influence. Volgens het rapport is de snelst groeiende leeftijdsgroep die van 65+ (met een participatie van [...]
Is grandma on Facebook & Twitter- US stats but indicative http://bit.ly/cbqgGh from socialmediainfluence.com
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Is grandma on Facebook & Twitter- US stats but indicative http://bit.ly/cbqgGh from socialmediainfluence.com
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My what big facebook and twitter you have RT @webspy: Where’s grandma? Probably on Facebook or Twitter http://bit.ly/cbqgGh
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Social networking use in the US by the grandparents crowd is rising by 10% compared to last year http://bit.ly/bmBcGi
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[...] joy. They are hanging out and “Liking” pages such as the AARP Facebook page, which is a growing community of active [...]
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