Socialesque Blog

Almost a third of users of social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace are fed up with receiving requests to join online groups or try new applications, according to a study.

The study, for industry body the Interactive Advertising Bureau, found that 31% of social networking website users disliked the barrage of notifications and requests to join various groups or try applications.

Research by the IAB also suggested that despite the rush by brands to tap into the potential of websites such as Facebook and MySpace, the reality is that users are turned off by marketing tactics.

Only 5% of those surveyed said they had signed up to a social networking profile set up or sponsored by a brand.

The report also found that 12% of those surveyed do not like the fact that other people can monitor online activity on websites such as MySpace and Facebook. The survey concluded that this suggested that users were not particularly aware of the privacy functions that can be set to limit what can be seen.

However, the survey, carried out by research firm Opinion Matters for the IAB, found that 28% of social networkers were happy to join a new group if it offered exclusive content. The IAB also found that the UK’s heaviest users of social networking sites were in Wales and the Midlands. Almost 60% of members of social networking websites in these areas log on at least once a day to their profile. This is followed by users in the north-east and north-west, where 52% of users log on at least once daily.

The study found that 58% of all UK internet users have a social networking profile. Of that group, 53% belong to one social networking website, 33% to two and 14% log on to three or more regularly.

In the over-55 age demographic, 13% of internet users have membership of three or more social networking websites.

This post has been adapted from here.

Posted on April 21st, 2009 under Uncategorized • Tags: Facebook, Marketing, MySpace. • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback