Skip to main content

British Bonding on Social Network Sites


Do the Brits "socialise" everything? Apparently, they're on social networking sites, they're British. eMarketer estimates that 39 percent of UK Internet users -- more than 15.4 million people -- will use social networks at least once per month in 2009.

And growth will continue, though at slightly slower rates after 2010. By 2013, the social networking population in the UK will reach 21.9 million and represent 50 percent of Internet users. IMHO, it's all those friendly cockneys from London. Alright, mate?

"Most early adopters of social media in the UK were young and male," says Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst. "And while older users -- especially those ages 65 and up -- still lag in social media usage, the appeal of Facebook and the spread of professional social networking among UK employees are boosting adoption in other age groups."

The all-important user group, UK women, is also warming to social networking, forums and blogging.

The 2008 "Digital World, Digital Life" survey by TNS provided a detailed snapshot of UK Internet user's activities online during the year.

To no one's surprise, searching, banking and catching up with the news and weather were among the most common online British pursuits. But various forms of social media also attracted significant audiences.

According to TNS, 37 percent of UK adult Internet users polled had visited a social networking site in the previous month, while 29 percent had viewed or contributed to an online forum, and 26 percent had visited or posted a comment on a message board.

Fewer than one in five had visited or added to a wiki (19 percent) or a blog (16 percent), or checked into a chat room (13 percent). Just 10 percent said they had visited a business networking site.

In its "Communications Market 2008" report, the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) noted a higher percentage in the number of users engaging in various forms of social media over a three-month period -- compared with the one-month period referenced by TNS. Overall, 51 percent of UK Web users polled said they had been active in social networking or other collaborative activities.

Many online social activities -- such as social networking, blogging and content-sharing -- are blurring to some extent, especially as major social networks provide more functionality to integrate these strands of communication.

At the same time, these behaviors are often distinct in Britain. They can attract different audiences and are still measured separately by many research firms, so it is useful to look at them one by one.

Popular posts from this blog

GenAI: A New Era in Business Transformation

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new frontier of innovation, with Generative AI (GenAI) at the forefront. At the brink of this revolution, it's crucial to understand the current GenAI adoption and its implications for commerce worldwide. A recent poll conducted by Gartner provides valuable insights into this emerging trend and the potential upside opportunities. Generative AI Market Development The poll, which included 1,419 executive leaders, indicates a significant shift in the corporate world's perception and adoption of GenAI. The data reveals that 45 percent of respondents are currently piloting GenAI, while another 10 percent have put it into production. This is a substantial increase from a similar poll conducted in March and April 2023, where only 15 percent were piloting and 4 percent were in production. GenAI is no longer a mere buzzword; it has become a strategic focus for organizations worldwide. As Frances Karamouzis, VP Analyst at Gartne

GenAI Revolution: The Future of B2B Sales Apps

When B2B buyers consider a purchase they spend just 17 percent of that time meeting with vendors. When they are comparing multiple suppliers‚ time spent with any one salesperson is 5 or 6 percent. Self-directed B2B buyer online research has already changed procurement. IT vendors are less likely to be involved in solution assessment. Now, more disruptive changes are on the horizon. By 2028, 60 percent of B2B seller work will be executed through conversational user interfaces via Generative Artificial Intelligence sales technologies -- that's up from less than 5 percent in 2023, according to Gartner. Generative AI Market Development "Sales operations leaders and their technology teams must prepare for the convergence of new forms of artificial intelligence, dynamic process automation, and reinvented deal-planning activities that will transform the sales function," said Adnan Zijadic, director analyst at Gartner . According to the Gartner assessment, Generative AI (GenAI) s

Industrial and Manufacturing Technology Growth

In an evolving era of rapid advancement, market demand for innovative technology in the industrial and manufacturing sectors is skyrocketing. Leaders are recognizing the immense potential of digital transformation and are driving initiatives to integrate technologies into their business operations.  These initiatives aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately drive growth and competitiveness in an increasingly digital business upward trajectory. The industrial and manufacturing sectors have been the backbone of the Global Networked Economy, contributing $16 trillion in value in 2021. Industrial and Manufacturing Tech Market Development   This growth represents a 20 percent increase from 2020, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of these sectors in the face of unprecedented challenges, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research . The five largest manufacturing verticals -- automotive, computer and electronic, primary metal, food, and machinery -