DATA: Pew "Generations Online" study

Pew Research Center recently released additional data about Americans online.  I'd like to say it's momentous, but it's simply the continuation of a trajectory.  More people of every age are going online, and the usage curve of the young is pushing higher as the population ages.

Years ago, when having seniors online was momentous, this kind of data was useful to me when trying to convince existing/prospective clients to invest in their online operations.  Nowadays if I hear 'My audience isn't online' in the face of data like this, then I'm confronting the kind of belief that evidence isn't going to change.  (It's like a form of 'no')

The one data point I'm going to suggest you pay attention to is the social networking usage.  Depending on who you ask, Facebook is either currently tied or beating MySpace in terms of worldwide usage.  For Americans, the cutoff for social network usage appears to be 40.  Under 40, 1 in 3 Americans or more is using a social network.  Over 40, it's 1 in 5.  That barrier will slowly move up the bracket until eventually retirees are using Facebook because their kids invited them to view photos of grandkids.

If you don't have a strategy for your Facebook presence in 2009, you are behind.  Call me if that bothers you: 202-256-1704.

A tip of the hat to David Haase, Virilion's Editorial and Content Director for pointing me at the Pew Study.