Social Web Studies

In der Studie wurde dazu wiederum nach Erfahrungen innerhalb der letzten drei Monate gefragt. Danach war jeder Fünfte mehr oder weniger stark von Beleidigung, Bedrohung oder das Streuen von Gerüchten betoffen. Belastet fühlen sich die Jugendlichen aber meist erst, wenn ihr soziales Ansehen geschädigt wird, etwa durch das Verraten von Geheimnissen, das Verbreiten von Unwahrheiten oder von unvorteilhaften oder manipulierten Fotos oder Filmen. Insgesamt nahmen solche Erfahrungen mit dem Alter und mit der Bildung ab. Nur die sexuelle Belästigung, die immerhin jedes dritte Mädchen erlebt hat, nimmt mit dem Alter zu und erreicht im Alter von 16 bis 18 Jahren den Höchstwert.

Weiter aufwärts geht es für den Social-Bookmark-Dienst Mister Wong (www.mister-wong.de) und die Bewertungsplattform Qype (www.qype.de). Der Bookmarksammler wird inzwischen von 1,87 Millionen Unique Usern (+ 10 % oder 170.000 Unique User) im Monat angesteuert. Qype wiederum verbesserte sich um 13,5 % oder 120.000 Unique User und erreicht nun 1,01 Millionen Unique User.

Federn lassen mussten dagegen die Foto- und Video-Community sevenload (www.sevenload.de) sowie die Experten-Community wer-weiss-was (www.wer-weiss-was.de).

Ebenfalls ein Minus steht beim noch jungen themenorientierten Vermarkternetzwerk Fantastic Zero (www.fantasticzero.de). Im Vergleich zur Erstausweisung reicht es diesmal nur für 1,37 Millionen Unique User (-9,3 %).

Die Ratgeber-Community gutefrage.net (www.gutefrage.net) erreicht aus dem Stand 1,73 Millionen Unique User

bei der Social-News-Community Yigg (www.yigg.de) 800.000 Unique User

The markets where social networking aficionados favour signed up for many sites are UAE, India, Indonesia, and Bulgaria. Robby Susatyo, Managing Director of Synovate in Indonesia, says: "It's a snowball. It's considered cool to have multiple membership because it shows that you are following the trend."

91% of Japanese social networkers are on a Japanese-language site called mixi

One of the major features of mixi is that it's invitation only.

it's not for broadening networks, rather for strengthening existing networks

privacy concerns and fear of strangers remain barriers to complete online comfort for a great many of our respondents

Nervy networkers' biggest concerns were lack of privacy (37%) closely followed by lack of security for children (32%).

But the more interesting finding is the unease among social networkers. 85% of Japanese and German social networkers were uncomfortable handing out details, followed by 83% in Taiwan, 79% in Canada, 77% in Brazil and South Africa and 70% in Poland and the US.

Identity theft continues to be a major problem in the US so handing out any personal information online is going to make people wary. Another growing issue in the US is online defamation

is it worth getting your brand online? Steve Garton says an emphatic 'yes', but do it quietly

Overall, 53% of social networkers notice site sponsors. In good news for the sponsors, these seem to have the greatest impact in the US (where 66% notice), Serbia (65%) and Russia and Germany (both 64%).

respondents who are members of social networking sites have a balanced on- and offline existence

Most people online, regardless of culture, have a very strong appreciation of being in the real world. Their attitudes and behaviour show us that the virtual world of social networking can complement relationships, but not replace them. There is no substitute for real life, real friends and real relationships.

When asked if they agree with the statement "I am losing interest in online social networking", 36% of the social networking site members were in the affirmative; led by Japan (55%), Slovakia (48%), Canada (47%), Poland and the US (45%).

Thirty seven percent of all people from the UAE, 35% of South Africans and 29% of Taiwanese agreed that they had more friends online than they have in the 'real' world.

those uncomfortable handing out their information include Japan and Germany hitting the top spot with 85%

There are people who think that social networking is dangerous.