Craig Daily Press / The new face of Facebook

Archive for Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Older, more mature audience now logging on to social networking site

Sari Cobb, 49, left, and Stacey Mathers, 37, both of Craig, look at Cobb's Facebook page Monday. Cobb, who convinced Mathers to create a Facebook page, said she most enjoys catching up with old friends and playing an occasional game on the social networking site. Facebook, once most appealing to college students, now is attracting an older audience.

By Michelle Perry

February 4, 2009

• More than 140 million active users

• More than half are not in college, with the fastest growing demographic older than 25

• Average user has 100 friends on the site

• 2.6 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day

• More than 70 percent of Facebook users are outside the United States

Source: Facebook.com

Facebook is growing up.

The once predominantly college-aged social networking site has expanded to include a, shall we say, more mature audience.

Launched in 2004, the site initially grew rapidly among college-aged users, according to the company's Web site.

But, of the more than 140 million active users today, those in college represent less than half. And the fastest growing demographic is 25 and older.

Facebook now is attracting such users as 49-year-old Craig resident Sari Cobb, who says she's used the site for the past six months to keep in touch with friends and family.

"It's just kind of a touch point," Cobb said. "It's a neat way to keep track of people."

Cobb created a Facebook page after her daughter suggested she join to keep in touch with high school and out-of-town friends.

"Initially, it took me a couple of weeks to kind of figure out what was going on," she said. "Once I figured it out - and of course my daughter helped a lot - I just love it."

Now Cobb has 80 friends on Facebook, and she most enjoys watching "status updates," letting her know what friends are up to at any given time and checking out photos of her old friends, all grown up and with their families.

"That's just such a treat," Cobb said.

Pam Vaughn, 56, also of Craig, joined Facebook less than a month ago and still is getting acclimated. She checks her page every day or two for responses to her messages to her daughter and out-of-state friend.

"It's been easy to use," Vaughn said. "It's very user friendly."

All the same, Vaughn said her use is "fairly minimal," while some others may spend several hours at a time on the site.

But, Cobb said just a short time on Facebook is enough to calm her urges for instant messaging, playing various games and sharing "flare," or simulated buttons and bumper stickers with humorous and sometimes political messages.

All in all, Cobb said Facebook is a unique way to keep in touch and give herself a break every now and then.

"During the day when things get really nuts and you just need to zone," Cobb said, "it's nice to hop on there and just take a minute. : Then I get back to work, and all is well."

The Lawrence Journal-World contributed to this story.