Reach Older Users on Facebook and Twitter

A new study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that social networking is maturing--or at least its audience is. As Baby Boomers flock to Facebook and other social networking sites, it shifts the marketing demographics and makes social networking an even more critical forum for engaging consumers.

The overview for the report by Senior Research Specialist Mary Madden, titled "Older Adults and Social Media," points out, "While social media use has grown dramatically across all age groups, older users have been especially enthusiastic over the past year about embracing new networking tools."

Social networking use has risen in general, but the sharpest increase was among the over-50 population which almost doubled from 22 percent to 42 percent.

Madden's report finds, "While social media use has grown dramatically across all age groups, older users have been especially enthusiastic over the past year about embracing new networking tools. Although e-mail continues to be the primary way that older users maintain contact with friends, families and colleagues, continue reading