Home Social Networks gaining on Internet portals

Social Networks gaining on Internet portals

US Web stats company Compete has some
interesting analysis
on how Social Networking sites compare to portals. From a
sample size
of around 2 million US people, Compete concludes that social networking
sites are quickly approaching the traffic level of the big portals like Google and Yahoo.
Their key findings:

1. In June, 2 out of every 3 people online visited a social networking site

2. Since January 2004, the number of people visiting or taking part in one of the top
online social networks has grown by over 109%

3. Social networking sites are now close to eclipsing traffic to the giants – Google
and Yahoo

They liken the growth of SNS to email in the 90’s. A couple of charts from
Compete:

Given my recent coverage of international markets, it’d be interesting to see how the
likes of Bebo fits into this picture – as Bebo recently overtook MySpace as the top SNS
in the UK
. Compete’s stats are US-only, but in any case it’s clear that all trends
point to SNS sites overtaking the Internet portals – sooner rather than
later.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.