Social Media Replaces Email

Analytics firm, Nielsen Online, recently released a report which shows the vast increase in users engaging in social networks and blogs for personal use—exceeding that of the use of email. Although email has long been a tool used for personal business (communicating with friends and family, for instance), social spheres like Facebook have brought all of the aspects of keeping in touch to one arena. Who needs to send an email when one can send a Facebook message?

Although the surge of social media outlets as a means of communication surpassing the use of email comes as no surprise, Nielsen is pointing to the rise in older users joining social networks. Read Write Web writes, “Youth watchers have long argued that for young people, email is how you communicate with elders in formal situations, while social networks and SMS are the preferred method of communication among peers. Nielsen found, however, that Facebook in particular saw greater growth among older people than it did among the young”. This growth comes from an increase of about 24.1 million users aged 35-49. Based on these results, it is clear that social media is not going anywhere, anytime soon. How else will social media affect our lives?