Social Media research can help us navigate an already crowded landscape. The data can pave the way for new ideas and a deeper understanding of the subject. Hopefully, the numbers below will shed some light on how to keep moving forward with a more positive perspective. Let’s not forget that tech has covered a lot of ground recently advancing too fast for laws to adapt and with some taking advantage of user openness and the software’s connectivity. Just like in the real world it’s up to our community to remove all the bad elements. Maybe a good starting point would be reminding everyone all that we have achieved and where we go next.
- 48% of ages 18-29 go online ‘almost constantly’. Millennials and Generation Z have grown up with the internet and are very much more accustomed to the practices of social media platforms. They are looking for a different approach to traditional advertising. They like being connected while entertained which gives way to a number of new ideas and features.
- Seven-in-ten US adults use Facebook and out of that number, 74% visit the site at least once daily. Despite the recent privacy concerns Facebook still remains the largest social media platform. As a marketer, it’s something you can’t ignore simply because of the sheer amount of users that are on Facebook.
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Around one-in-five U.S. adults (22%) say they use Twitter. 80% of tweets come from the top 10% of users. Twitter has grown a lot in recent years but many people have profiles just to read the news or get updates without really posting. As far as advertising goes it is ideal for creating brand awareness.
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Roughly eight-in-ten teens ages 13 to 17 (81%) say social media makes them feel more connected. Around four-in-ten say they feel pressure to only post content on social media that makes them look good to others (43%) or share things that will get a lot of likes or comments (37%). Vanity and the desire to be connected always played a role in the explosive growth of Instagram and Snapchat.
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63% of rural Americans say they have a broadband internet connection at home. Most rely on a smartphone for an internet connection. We see a lot of room for improvement in these numbers but that requires a sense of trust between those communities and online companies.
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Social media platforms in order of popularity 2019: Youtube 73%, Facebook 69%, Instagram 37%, Pinterest 28%, Linkedin 27%, Snapchat 24%, Twitter 22%. There doesn’t seem to be much room for another company here but that won’t stop others from trying. A good example would be tiktok.
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85% of people think knowledge of computers, communication skills and access to training are key to career success. You simply can’t compete in today’s business environment if you are not computer savvy or internet literate. You must have the ability to effectively write, produce and communicate in a digital environment.
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Only 33% of Americans think it’s acceptable for social media companies to disclose their personal information. The user should be able to decide what he shares and what he doesn’t. Opting out completely should also be an option. Many don’t even realize how their data is being used exactly.
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Most Americans like their choices in today’s information-saturated world, but 20% feel overloaded. The delivery of news is changing format. Although most people still get their information from a TV set we now spend more time on our cellphones than any other screen. These numbers along with streaming will only grow bigger in the future.
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Email, messaging and social media are still the most popular online activities.
Source: PewResearch.org
