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More Young People Flocking to Facebook
Digital marketing analysts comScore have revealed that more 15 to 24-year-old users are visiting social networking websites compared to the same time last year.
The digital media experts published the results of its research into social networking and said that its new findings contradicted reports that young people are abandoning such websites due to their increasing popularity among the older generation. Instead, comScore argued that while 15 to 24 year olds are generally spending less time at many of these sites, this is because they are congregating at Facebook.
The number of people in this age group visiting social networking sites rose to 6.8 million in June this year – a 14 per cent rise compared to June 2008. Despite this increase, the amount of time 15 to 24-year-old users have spent on social networking sites fell by 9 per cent, which appeared to be due to them spending less time on less popular sites, said comScore Europe managing director Mike Read.
“Recent reports have suggested that 15 to 24 year olds in the UK are moving away from social networking sites because they’re no longer cool as older users have encroached on their virtual space. comScore research indicates that is simply not the case,” Mr Read added.
He then went on to say: “In fact, more 15 to 24 year olds are using social networking sites than a year ago, so there isn’t any particular aversion to the activity. What does appear to be happening is that younger users are beginning to consolidate around Facebook and are spending less time on competing sites.”
Social Media news posted by 
on 11 August 2009
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Sloppy analysis?
Comparing to a year ago might be misleading; it is far too long a measure. The June 2008 numbers might have doubled by January 2009, but could have then fallen away significantly in line with reports. The end result would be that numbers are still higher now than in June 2008. It's not contradictory, it's comparing apples and oranges. The measurements are over a different timespan.
Comment posted by Anonymous on 11/08/2009 03:59:31
