Social Media Predictions

[Benjamin Brandao]

The buzz word for 2010 will be Micro-Localized Social Networking. Spacial relativity will become less and less a factor in determining social borders. A new world order will begin to emerge within two years.According to Nielsen Online, 2009 saw exponential growth of social media. Twitter alone grew 1,382% registering more than 7 million unique US visitors in the month of February alone. Meanwhile, MySpace users continued the migration to Facebook. What will social media look like in 2010?Next year, "social media will get even more popular, more mobile, and more exclusive" — at least, that's what David Armano's thinks, author of Six Social Media Trends for 2010.I believe the boutique social media phenomenon that Ning has enabled will surpass all other social media providers combined. Due to the ability of Ning users to create their own social media experience based around what ever passion they share with others. When I last checked, in November 2009, Ning users have created 1.5 million social networks with a combined 37million unique users; growing at a rate of 12 million new users every month.I believe the tasks Ning made possible for us to undertake will have a tangible lasting impact on the evolution of the human experience.

[Laura]

Alternatively, I have about 4 networks I use for testing issues that people report, each with 1-4 members. I expect there are a lot like those too!

I recommend all Creators have at least one test network they use to test design, layout, new pages and content.

[Benjamin Brandao]

A unique user may belong to multiple networks. A network could have 200,000 members, none of them being unique if they all belong to at least one other Ning Network.

Perhaps a better way to word that would have been. "Ning has 37 million users belonging to one or more of the 1.5 million networks already established by Ning Creators."

[MAXX]

1.5 million networks and 37 million unique users.....i am not very good at math, but isn't that less than 37 unique users per network????

[Laura]

I found this post regarding MySpace users interesting, particularly "MySpace is the 11th most visited site in the world, with unique 60 to 70 million U.S. visitors every month."
It seems that there is a place both for larger and 'smaller' niche networks! They have different purposes and may cater to different types of people.

[Ed 'The Pagan' Hubbard]

Well, The Book Viral Loop speaks well of Ning, and if you are right, you have a viral co-efficient of .25 per month, which is substantial.