Social Networking - Why You May Want to Start Paying Attention

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Mike Oetting
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Social Networking Websites: Why You May Want to Start Paying Attention

Social Networking Websites: They’re All Over the News
Younger employees help senior executives unlock social media mystery (Chicago Tribune)
CTAM Summit 2009: Don't Miss The Boat on Social Media, Panel Warns (Broadcasting and Cable)
Businesses look to social networking sites to lure consumers (Carroll County Times)
An Application to Help Scrub Those Regrettable Photos From Facebook (The New York Times)
Palin Posts Resume On Social-Networking Site LinkedIn (Huffington Post)
Facebook is leaving Twitter in the dust, says Hitwise (VentureBeat)

What we’ll cover today
What do social networking sites do and how do people use them?
Explore popularity of these sites
Discuss demographics of users
Answer the question, “Why should we pay attention?”
Talk about the downsides of participation
Demonstrate Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
Discuss privacy settings
List some other sites with a social component

What do social networking sites do?
They “provide ways for people to find, connect and interact with others online as well as typically providing tools for online communities of interest to communicate.” (from www.obsessable.com/glossary/social-networking/)

Common Social Networking Uses
Share images and video
Reconnect with old friends
Provide status updates to all of your buddies at once

Common Uses (continued)
Network & job seek
Solicit advice from industry professionals
Meet new friends with common interests and hobbies

Social Networking Popularity
OMG
As of this year, over a third of all adult Internet users in the United State have a profile.
It’s even hotter among younger Internet users. 75% of 18 to 24 year olds have a profile.
Over one-half of social networking users have more than one profile.
(www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/Adults-and-Social-Network-Websites.aspx)

Social Networking Popularity: Market Share by Visits (09/2009)
Facebook: 59% (194% increase over last year)
MySpace: 30% (55% decrease from last year)
Twitter: 2% (1,170% increase over last year)
Source: http://www.hitwise.com/us/press-center/press-releases/social-networking-sept-09/

Social Networking Demographics: Age
Median Age of Social Networking Users
Linked In: 39 years old
Facebook: 33 years old
MySpace: 26 years old
Source: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/17-Twitter-and-Status-Updating-Fall-2009.aspx

Social Networking Demographics: Income
Users earning over $100K per year
Linked In: 38%
Facebook: 23%
MySpace: 16%
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/10/13/social.networking.class/

Why should you pay attention to social networking?
Social networking appears to be here to stay for awhile. People migrate from service to service, but don’t typicallystop altogether.
If you aren’t on a social networking site, you’re missing opportunities to stay connected or reconnect with others.
Provides another entertainment choice: one that is more interactive than most.

Why should you pay attention (cont.?)
Your use may give employers the impression that you are plugged-in and forward-thinking.
Gives you a platform to freely express yourself to a group of people with whom you have a connection.
It’s fun!

Downsides to Consider
It can be addicting & time consuming.
It’s tempting to reveal too much.
Potential employers may screen your profiles (45% of employers admit to having done this, with an additional 11% planning to begin soon).*
What happens to your personal info. if the company fails?
* source: mashable.com/2009/08/19/social-media-screening/

Demonstration of three social networking sites:

Before you create an account…
Think carefully about your privacy settings. (Who do you want to see what information)?
you
Your Friends
Friends of Friends
Public

Sample Privacy Settings

Avatars – Your Online Representation
Photo (artistic or head-and-shoulders)
Logo of a club or organization with which you are affiliated
Other cartoon or symbolic representation of you
A celebrity you resemble or admire

Other web sites and applications with a social component
Internet bookmarks – Delicious.com
Photographs –Flickr.com
News – Digg.com
Book collections – Shelfari.com & LibraryThing.com
Book discussions – Booksprouts.com
Local restaurants – Yelp.com
Local contractors – Angieslist.com (fee-based)

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Social Networking - Why You May Want to Start Paying Attention

by Mike Oetting on Nov 19, 2009

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Social Networking - Why You May Want to Start Paying Attention — Presentation Transcript