Frequent Social Networkers Would Rather Keep Their Smartphones Than Their TVs; Facebook is the Place for Brands to Be

A study titled “The Social Habit 2011” from Edison Research delves into various aspects of “America’s adoption of social networking sites and services, with a detailed look at Facebook and Twitter usage, mobile social behavior, and location-based apps and services.” Among the many findings in the study are that frequent social networkers would much rather keep their smartphones than their TVs if given the choice of keeping just one of the two.

In 2011, 52 percent of Americans have a profile on one or more social networking sites, according to Edison Research. This is up from 48 percent in 2010, 34 percent in 2009 and 24 percent in 2008.

Facebook reaches 51 percent of Americans ages 12 and up – in other words, 51 percent of Americans use/have a profile on Facebook. This was followed by MySpace with 17 percent, LinkedIn with 9 percent and Twitter with 8 percent.

Despite the low number for Twitter, 92 percent of Americans have heard of Twitter in 2011, up from 87 percent in 2010, 26 percent in 2009 and 5 percent in 2008.

Twitter users are getting more engaged. According to the study, 70 percent of Twitter users have ever posted a status update to the site in 2011, up from just 47 percent in 2010.

Edison Research also found that 33 percent of social networkers in the U.S. (or 46 million people) use social networking websites/services several times per day, while 23 percent use them nearly every day, 18 percent use them several times a week, 18 percent use them a few times a month or less, and 9 percent use them at least once a week.

Habitual social networkers tend to be women (57 percent) and between the ages of 18-34 (52 percent).

According to the study, 85 percent of frequent social networkers update their status on social networking sites/services, compared to 63 percent of all social networkers. The mean number of devices frequent social networkers employ to access the wireless Internet at home is 3.5, according to Edison Research.

Respondents were asked the question: “Suppose from this moment on you were given the following two choices…either you could never watch television again OR you could never use your smartphone again, which would you be more willing to eliminate from your life?”

Sixty-four percent said they’d rather keep their smartphone, while 36 percent said they’d rather keep their TV.

The study also found that 30 percent of Americans are familiar with location-based social networking services like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places. This is up from just 7 percent in 2010.

Four percent of Americans, or about 10 million, have ever posted a status update that included their location. Meanwhile, 18 percent of those who use location-based services use them almost every time they go out, while 42 percent said they use them sometimes.

Eighty percent of respondents said they use Facebook to connect with brands, followed by 6 percent who said Twitter and 3 percent who said LinkedIn.

Accordingly, 24 percent of respondents said Facebook is the social network that influences their buying decisions the most.

Source:

http://www.slideshare.net/webby2001/the-social-habit-2011-by-edison-research

http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2011/05/the_social_habit_2011.php