Social networking has only just begun! What’s amazing, though, is that by the end of 2008, social networking will overtake email–in terms of worldwide reach. That’s amazing.

According to Nielsen Online’s most recent report (shown below), 66.8% of Internet users across the globe accessed “member communities” last year. Only 65.1% centered on accessing email.

What does this mean?

We, at Yonkly, believe that there’s an inherrent need to connect. We find that the internet’s pervasive natures is extremely powerful, in that, it allows people with similiar interests to get in touch with one another. While we believe this is important, we also believe that having constant communication with your support hub is just as meaningful.

Another nice figure centered on member communities (which Yonkly falls into). In 2008, users spent 63% more time on member communities than they did in 2007. Within member communities, Facebook saw growth of 566% in time spent on it by users worldwide. As has been reported elsewhere, Facebook’s fastest growth demographic is older users – the social network tacked on 12.4 million people between ages 35-49 in 2008 according to Nielsen.

Bottom line: Conncecting and cultivating relationships within hubs that center on your interest is critical, and will experience even more growth in 2009.

The full report is embedded below:

socialnetworkreach – Free Legal Forms