TimmyHMobile Social Networking Wanes
July 23rd 2008 03:10
A report from the LSE (London School of Economics) has warned that we should keep the importance of mobile social networking in perspective. The School’s Media and Communications department says that users should not be wooed by the hype surrounding sites like Facebook and MySpace.
The study found that less than a quarter of Internet users ever actually visit Social Networking websites. Another survey, by ICM Research found that mobile users are much more likely to use their mobile phones for email with 43 percent checking their inbox from the mobile.
Dr Haddon of the LSE says that “Obviously social networking does not dominate life online, despite the image that some of the more enthusiastic media coverage might imply. In fact only seven per cent of the whole sample use the various mobile devices to do so every day.”
“On the other hand, this figure of roughly a quarter is still substantial given that SNS have been around far less time than the more established uses, such as email.”
At the moment, cost the primary reason that mobile users give for not using the internet on their mobile phones. Problems associated with screen and keyboard size are also difficult to overcome.
There is also the fact that users feel the need to check their emails throughout the day, whereas social networking is more often than not reserved for after work hours.
Dr Haddon finishes his report by suggesting that mobile social networking has yet to become an integral part of peoples’ mobile internet lives as email has. More than a quarter of social networking users say that losing access would bother them and half of those think it would ruin their day.
The study was commissioned by Shine Communications Ltd on behalf of Vodafone. So keep that in mind when examining the implications.
The study found that less than a quarter of Internet users ever actually visit Social Networking websites. Another survey, by ICM Research found that mobile users are much more likely to use their mobile phones for email with 43 percent checking their inbox from the mobile.
Dr Haddon of the LSE says that “Obviously social networking does not dominate life online, despite the image that some of the more enthusiastic media coverage might imply. In fact only seven per cent of the whole sample use the various mobile devices to do so every day.”
“On the other hand, this figure of roughly a quarter is still substantial given that SNS have been around far less time than the more established uses, such as email.”
At the moment, cost the primary reason that mobile users give for not using the internet on their mobile phones. Problems associated with screen and keyboard size are also difficult to overcome.
There is also the fact that users feel the need to check their emails throughout the day, whereas social networking is more often than not reserved for after work hours.
Dr Haddon finishes his report by suggesting that mobile social networking has yet to become an integral part of peoples’ mobile internet lives as email has. More than a quarter of social networking users say that losing access would bother them and half of those think it would ruin their day.
The study was commissioned by Shine Communications Ltd on behalf of Vodafone. So keep that in mind when examining the implications.
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