Tech Report: Baby Boomers Drive Social Networking's Popularity
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Half of all American adults now have accounts on social networks, and use of services such as Twitter and Facebook among Baby Boomers is growing, according to a new report.
A survey released Friday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds nearly two-thirds of adults who use the Internet log on to social networking sites, up slightly from a year ago.
Among Baby Boomers aged 50 to 64, 32 percent say they use a social networking site on a typical day. That's up from 20 percent a year ago.
KCBS technology analyst Larry Magid said the Pew data show social networking is very popular with groups typically seen as being on the other side of the digital divide.
Sixty-three percent of those identifying as non-white Hispanics reported using social networking sites, as did 69 percent of blacks.
"It's interesting data that shows that this is catching on big time," Magid said.
KCBS Technology Analyst Larry Magid
Responses to the Pew survey also revealed that satisfaction with social networking sites was much greater than news reports might suggest.
"There's plenty of complaints about Facebook. We hear them all the time. Most people seem to be happy with what they're getting," Magid said.
The Pew survey released Friday was conducted April 26 to May 22 among 2,277 adults.
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