The Pew Internet & American Life Project recently published on it's website the results of a survey that found over half (55%) of all all American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites; and that older teens, particularly girls, are more likely to use these sites.  It states that "for girls, social networking sites are primarily places to reinforce pre-existing friendships; for boys, the networks also provide opportunities for flirting and making new friends."
 
According to the report, "A social networking site is an online place where a user can create a profile and build a personal network that connects him or her to other users. In the past five years, such sites have rocketed from a niche activity into a phenomenon that engages tens of millions of internet users."
 
This acceptance and embrace of social network websites bodes well for the long-term future of websites like ActiveRain and Localism -- as the teen generation matures and become participants in the real estate markets, they will be much more comfortable with, and desirous of, environments facilitating social networking.  Particularly if those social networking environments continue to meet basic community communication and support needs, help maintain relationships and facilitate making new relationships.
 
The report further confirms to me, what many busineses are beginning to realize, that this as a huge market area -- not just to tap into for current opportunities, but also to establish a presence and begin to build relationships that will have contining and evolving benefits as the participants mature.
 
View PDF of Social Network Websites and Teenage Usage Report



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