According to a recent study, Americans spend 23 percent of each day using social media. This means that one of every four to five minutes is spent on Facebook or Twitter. What can be made from this data?
The first conclusion that can be drawn is that social media is a powerful force in our everyday lives. Whether social media is being used for work on sites like LinkedIn, or for play on sites like Facebook, it has turned into just another way to keep busy and stay in touch. It`ll be interesting to see how Google`s new social networking platform comes into play with its recent launch.
An interesting point is that women are using social media more than men. This is interesting because men are usually are the ones using technology much more than women. A technology that is in use by both genders can offer many more marketing opportunities for business and more universal technology overall.
The rise of social media can also be traced to smartphones. People like being connected wherever they go so downloading a Twitter app, or being able use the Internet on their phones to log in is a useful feature. Filling in downtime looking at Twitter while waiting for work to start, or while waiting for your parents to pick you up form the mall could explain why the use of social media is so high.
What could be the most surprising find from the study is that Americans spend almost twice as much time on social media as they do games. This could suggest that those who use social media appreciate being able to build networks and stay in touch. It also suggests that Americans really might be using social media as a way to do work or find a job just as much as it could be used for mindless chatter.
When looking at the most popular social networks, a variety springs from the top of the list. The one site that really stands out is blogger. Blogger is a free blog site that allows anyone to write to their hearts content about any subject that they wish. It could point toward another main reason why social media is so popular and that is because there is a desire in all of us to share something and be heard.
It might seem obvious that Americans spend a lot of time using social media. However, finding out why we do so can bring some really interesting observations into focus. Social media could be a mindless waste of time, but it can also be used to find employment, meet new people and have our voices heard in a world where that isn’t always possible.
Facebook and Twitter may not be suitable for you when it comes to social media, but you can always try Google’s new social media site – Google Plus. If you have not done so yet, you can regiser for an account here.
Guest Post by Harisson Lapari
Posted by Editor on Sep 21, 2011. Filed under LifeStyle, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
