9 out of 10 Internet Users Now Use Social Media

The 2010 U.S. Digital Year In Review, produced by comScore, was released today. comScore is an online leader in digital marketing analysis and online user behavior that’s been around since 1999.

There’s all sorts of interesting analysis in this report about the much talked about increase in online consumer spending habits, local/group buying site’s (Groupon, Living Social) exponential growth, and a steady decrease in email usage among all the young folks (the boomer’s and older are the only group’s who showed an increase in email use). But what really caught my eye was the social media trends. Everyone knows it’s a hot topic, here’s what comScore’s report said:

“Social Networking Continues Growth in 2010 as One of the Web’s Top Activities
Social networking continued to gain momentum throughout 2010, with 9 out of every 10 U.S. Internet users now visiting a social networking site each month. Social networking sites accounted for 12 percent
of all time spent online in 2010 with the average Internet user spending more than 4.5 hours on these
sites each month. Globally, social networking accounts for 15.6 percent of online time among those age
15 and older. Among this same age population, social networking accounts for 14.4 percent of
Americans’ online time. It is clear that social networking has become an integral part of the fabric of the
Internet and one that is increasingly becoming integrated into the experience of so many different
activities online.”

So wait. Only 1 in 10 people AREN’T using a social networking site if they use the internet? That’s hard to believe until I think of the countless people I see on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn that I NEVER thought would be there. People are inherently social, guess it makes sense. There’s probably an opportunity or two here, right?