The Internet Means Search and Email
August 24, 2011
We were a bit underwhelmed. Though social media is gaining ground, one survey found that it has a long way to go to overtake the number one use of the internet which is searching for information. As discussed in “Who Uses Search Engines? 92% of Adult U.S. Internet Users [Study]”, research center, Pew Internet, found that searching is the single most popular use of the internet with email coming in second.
The survey found that the amount of people searching on a regular basis has grown over the past 10 years in every demographic. Now 92 percent of internet users utilize search engines, with 59 percent of them doing it on a regular basis. Email has similar numbers. The younger, the wealthier, and the more educated are the most likely to search and use email on a daily basis.
This leaves people to wonder what is happening with social media?
It’s certainly true that social sites are growing rapidly. Since 2004, when Pew Internet started looking at social media usage among those surveyed, social sites have risen from 11 percent usage to 65 percent usage. The growth started slowing in 2009, but is continuing a gradual climb.
I think it is safe to say that social media popularity will continue to grow, but will never have the numbers associated with searching and email. The likes of Facebook and Twitter just are not alternatives to a search engine. People are always going to need and seek out information which will safely secure the top spot for companies like Google and Yahoo.
Jennifer Wensink August 24, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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