Top social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn may be well-established, but that doesn't mean they've stopped growing.
Nearly half of the biggest social networking sites are also among the fastest growing, according to data released Wednesday by Nielsen Online.
These top sites have also expanded beyond the youthful audience the social networking space initially captured -- to find a place in older visitors' professional lives. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reunion.com are most popular among visitors ages 25-34, 35-49, and 55-64, respectively, Nielsen reported.
| Rank (by Sept. YOY UA growth) | 10 Fastest Growing Social Networking Sites: Sept. 2008 | Sept. 2007: Unique Audience (in 000s) | Sept. 2008: Unique Audience (in 000s) | % Growth: Year Over Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twitter.com | 533* | 2,359 | 343% |
| 2 | Tagged.com | 898 | 3,857 | 330% |
| 3 | Ning | 842* | 2,955 | 251% |
| 4 | 4,075 | 11,924 | 193% | |
| 5 | Last.fm | 850 | 1,879 | 121% |
| 6 | 18,090 | 39,003 | 116% | |
| 7 | MyYearbook | 1,422 | 3,056 | 115% |
| 8 | Bebo | 1,299 | 2,418 | 86% |
| 9 | Multiply | 592 | 941 | 59% |
| 10 | Reunion.com | 4,845 | 7,601 | 57% |
| Source: The Nielsen Company, Custom Analysis (September 2008). | ||||
| *Note: These websites do not meet minimum sample size standards. Projected and average measures for these sites may exhibit large changes month-to-month, as a result. | ||||
| Rank (by UA) | Top Social Networking Sites: Sept. 2008 | Sept. 2007: Unique Audience (in 000s) | Sept. 2008: Unique Audience (in 000s) | % Growth: Year Over Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myspace.com | 58,581 | 59,352 | 1% |
| 2 | 18,090 | 39,003 | 116% | |
| 3 | Classmates Online | 13,313 | 17,075 | 28% |
| 4 | 4,075 | 11,924 | 193% | |
| 5 | Windows Live Spaces | 10,275 | 9,117 | -11% |
| 6 | Reunion.com | 4,845 | 7,601 | 57% |
| 7 | Club Penguin | 3,769 | 4,224 | 12% |
| 8 | AOL Hometown | 7,685 | 3,909 | -49% |
| 9 | Tagged.com | 898 | 3,857 | 330% |
| 10 | AOL Community | 4,017 | 3,079 | -23% |
| Source: The Nielsen Company, Custom Analysis (September 2008). | ||||
View the full press release.
Read coverage of Nielsen's findings in Media Post, Wired, and PC Magazine.
