The percentage of Internet users who are on social-networking sites continues to climb, according to a survey released 26 August 2011 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The findings are from a phone survey of 2,277 adults conducted in English and Spanish between April 26 and May 22.
In February 2005, 5% of adults told Pew they used social media. This year's survey more than 50% of adults participating (Web users and nonusers) confirmed that they are using social networking.
The report calls young adult women the "power users" of social-media sites. About 89% of online women from 18-29 years old are on the sites and 69% of them say they tend to log onto social media every day (compared to 60% of all men).
In one question, Pew asked people who have used social-networking to give a one-word description of their experiences.
The responses were overwhelmingly positive, the report said, with one-in-five being negative.
Among positive responses, the top five were: good, fun, great, interesting and convenient.
The most popular negative responses were: boring, confusing, frustrating, time-consuming and overwhelming.
In Europe ECWT has experienced similar tendencies in connection with the online survey and focused preparations carried out through social media (EU Women Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) for Workshop 22 of the Digital Agenda Assembly "Women for Smart Growth" in Brussels 16-17 June 2011.
For more information: Cheryl D. Miller, Belgian N-PoC of the ECWT, greenlight for girls and Zen Digital, e-mail.
