60 seconds in the social media world

In 60 seconds you can brush your teeth, get dressed, reheat last night’s dinner or wait at a traffic light. According to the infographic below, that’s nothing compared to what happens on social networks in a mere minute.

Google+ reaches milestone

Google+ revealed yesterday in a blog post that the network has passed 500 million members. Out of those 500 million members, only 135 million are active accounts in the stream.

The company referred to itself as “the fastest-growing network thingy ever.” In September the site announced passing the 400 million-member milestone. One hundred million users in less than 3 months, not bad.

Nielsen launches 2012 social media report

Here are some key findings from the report:

• Mobile web audience increased 82 percent since 2011. Time spent surfing the mobile web increased 22 percent.
• Mobile app audience increased 85 percent. Time spent on mobile apps increased 120 percent.
• Seventeen percent of time people spend on PCs is on Facebook.
• Thirty-two percent of people ages 18-24 use social media in the bathroom. (YUCK. What are we millennials thinking?)
• People feel generally positive about using social media, 76 percent. Only 21 percent feel negative after using social media.
• Sixty-five percent of social media users learn more about brands, products or services at least once a month. Seventy percent hear other people’s experiences with products via social media.

These findings show us that social media hasn’t hit a plateau yet. It’s still growing and at a rapid pace. New networks continue to grow and evolve. Although social networks may reach maturity in the product life cycle, the concept of social media will be permanent for a long time. It’s becoming ingrained in the way people communicate and spend their time.

For the full report check out http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/social/2012/

Students increasingly plugged into social media

Turkey, mashed potatoes and a side of Instagram

The two-year-old Instagram had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving this year.

More than 10 million things to be exact. That’s the amount of photos Instagrammers shared with Thanksgiving-themed words in the caption, according to Instagram’s official blog. From around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PST, 226 photos per second were uploaded about Thanksgiving. That’s a whole lot of #foodporn as some might say.

Are social networks debilitating the workforce?

Is social media empowering workers or causing them to lose focus? This infographic below explores some interesting facts about the possibility of social media causing a decrease in productivity. This is something that could start impacting millennials while they’re in college. During finals week should you consider disabling your Facebook account?

The big question is: were we more productive without social media, or are we more productive with it?

Latest Erik Qualman ‘Socialnomics’ breakdown

As Erik Qualman  launches the second edition of his book Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Do Business, he has provided readers with an updated  Youtube video filled with fast facts about social media and its growing impact. Check it out below, and stop back within the next few weeks for my review of his latest book.

The generation of a not so secret ballot

Image courtesy of http://www.economistgroup.com.

For the first time on Tuesday, I was eligible to vote in the presidential election. Unlike many of my peers, I won’t share who I voted for.

Twenty nine percent of millennials (ages 18 to 29) shared who they voted for via social media, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

When I was growing up, my parents always taught me that it was rude to ask someone who they voted for, and they always were discreet about their candidate choice. However, with millennials growing up in a society sharing everything via social media, an American culture with secret ballots may be a thing of the past.

As I perused through social media on the morning of Election Day, I found that not only were my friends sharing who they voted for, but many also chose to capture their moment in the voting booth, particularly with pictures on Instagram.

Is social media addiction real?

Can’t go a day without logging in and checking for notifications?

You aren’t alone. Check out this infographic for how social media is becoming an addiction.

Facebook outdated for engaging customers

According to Mashable and a study by Napkin Labs, only six percent of fans engage with a brand’s Facebook page. Engagement includes participation with likes, comments, polls and shares.

Does this prove that Facebook is nearing the end of its ‘product life cycle’? Are sites like Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram the new best way for companies to interact with customers?