One of our favorite social media experts, Jeff Bullas states that these are the Social Media Facts and Statistics you, as a user and as a startup, need to know for 2014:

“Social web demographicsSocial media is a blur of  tweets, shares and content. No longer is it just used by the young and the restless. It is global and embedded in every corner of the web.

So some questions. Which age groups are using social media, what countries are big Facebook users and what percentage are using mobile to access social media?

This is the who and the where of social media users.

• 72% of all internet users are now active on social media
• 18-29 year olds have an 89% usage
• The 30-49 bracket sits at 72%
• 60 percent of 50 to 60 year olds are active on social media
• In the 65 plus bracket, 43% are using social media
• Time spent on Facebook per hour spent online by country. Here are the top three. USA citizens get the top gong at 16% followed by the Aussies at 14 minutes and the Brits at 13 minutes.
• 71% of users access social media from a mobile device.

The paradigm of social media only being used by the younger generation should be put to rest now.

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/01/17/20-social-media-facts-and-statistics-you-should-know-in-2014/#F2cYCOqtXW9RZrzo.99”

This got us to thinking. Perhaps it’s truly the time when Social Media transcends the “cool” factor and enters the realm of “value for all”.

In the last few years, it has been evident that while the noise on social media has grown at an exponential rate, based on our own experiences in providing social network solutions for startups and enterprises, we realized something surprising and encouraging.

Social Networks are becoming selective.

Social Networks are maturing.

The effort that startups are putting into providing not merely the ability to connect or express, but in activating a healthier, more value-oriented and benefit driven social networking is astounding.

Be it for something as simple as conversation to something as vast as education, we’ve worked and researched in social networking solutions to gauge some high value objectives.

The social media as we knew it, as for the young, from the young, by the young is now changing. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, three largest social networking websites have seen a surge in accounts that are 30+ age users who are willing to share their knowledge, their advice and their expertise with their users.

Similarly, the younger generation has welcomed the idea of having these experts on a platform they are comfortable with. Sure, parents and families still make them a little awkward, but teachers do not, parents of their friends or colleagues do not.

From educationists to scientists to published authors to politicians, the generations have transcended their gaps and found a common forum across various portals on internet.

And it is heartening to see that startups are gearing towards a niche social networking model where the core features are to provide services that benefit you, the user, regardless of age.

From outsourcing your chores to someone helpful and trustworthy to sharing the passion for sports with the people world over, our social network solutions have seen the versatility of social media in all its glory. So this is an applause and an invitation both. To the startups who are working on social networks that provide true value and genuine benefit, we salute you.

To the startups who are eager to create a niche social network where age and demographics matter less than user experience, benefit and genuine value, we’re here for you.

Vinfotech is a web design and development firm based in San Francisco and India. We offer expertise in niche social network design solutions for exuberant startups all over the world. Give us a call, let’s make the world a little more helpful, a little more friendly.