Which social networks do you know and use in US

In today's article, I introduce the Ifop study "L'Observatoire des Reseaux Sociaux" on awareness of social networks in France. It gives us an insight into which networks in the neighboring country are particularly attractive and which tendencies may emerge in relation to the use of social networks in the future.

Which networks are popular? 

The French population not only knows Facebook, Youtube and Twitter but eight other social networks are known by 70% of the population and are actively used accordingly.

The top list of known networks is cited by the major American sites:

• 97% Facebook
• 95% Youtube
• 94% Twitter.

But the French network culture does not stop there. 70% of respondents also know Skype, Google+ (87%), Dailymotion, Copain d'avant and Deezer. 
86% of Internet users are members of at least one social network. In 2007 it was only 20%. They became really popular in 2009, where 77% of Internet surfers have registered in a social network. Last year it was only 27%. Currently, an Internet user has on average about 4.5 accounts. For example, in 2009 there were only 1.9 accounts. 
63% of French Internet users are registered on Facebook, and the numbers continue to rise since 2012. Google+ has now captured 32% of users. 
Twitter is also making progress and now accounts for 17% of enrolled users (up 5% yoy).

Which business network wins in US? 
LinkedIn leads with 47% (gain of 14% points) compared to its smaller local competitor Viadeo which only brings it to 36% and has only gained 5% points. 
However, the business networks are not among the networks that are particularly frequented. Of French business people, jobseekers, etc., LinkedIn is checked daily by about 5%, 26% of users are checking weekly for updates, and 41% use the world's largest business network only once a month. By comparison, on a global level, LinkedIn has 259 million users and 35% log in daily. 
Who uses the networks particularly actively?
Executives, the "cadres" are more common in social media than other professions. Preferred networks are: Facebook 75%, Skype 57%, Deezer 38%, Youtube 37% and Google+ 37%. 
Workers are most likely to hit Facebook, but even there, they are not as diverse as employees. 
Top 5 workers: Facebook 66%, Skype 39%, Google+ 32%, Copains d'avant 32% and Youtube 29%.

Where is the journey going? What are the priorities in the future? 
Interestingly, 40% of Internet users said that they mourn the time when there were no social networks yet. 
44% of registered Internet users said they would spend less time on social media to engage in discussions or share photos, videos or gags. 
67% of registered users want to spend the same amount of time or more, sharing interesting articles, photos and videos. 
78% want to spend just as much time or more researching information on the social networks without bringing themselves in or responding.

Cause of the reduced commitment? 
60% said that they want to take more care of their personal affairs. 
For 44%, it's because of the strong presence of advertising in social media, 
33% feel the need to arrange real-life meetings instead of spending so much time in the virtual world.

When asked if users want to disconnect from one or more accounts, they replied:

• 56% with no
• Yes, at least from some of my accounts and 38%
• 6% want to sign out of all.

About the study: For this study, Ifop 2005 Internet users from 21-28. November 2013 interviewed. 56 social networks were covered. 
Where is the journey going in the new year? What do teenagers do when they do not spend so much time on Facebook? The answer, as described here on e-orientations.com , are mobile apps and alternative channels: sharing photos through Snapchat, sharing photo-video or even audio content via Pheed, Twitter videos Vine and many more will all come to fruition even more popular. Whether in Germany, England, France or Spain: mobile communication across different networks will play an even stronger role than it already is.

This entry is part of the #Blogparade #France , organized by the eCommerce-Blog multilingual-trading.de . If you want to know more about France, you will find interesting articles on a variety of topics around our beautiful neighbor.

Anonymous social networks: What can the secret chats do?

the number of apps you use to anonymously send or chat messages to your friends without revealing your identity explodes in the App Store and Google Play to the same extent as their users.

These applications allow image or text content to be shared anonymously publicly or with your own contacts. Apart from anonymity, the programs differ slightly from each other.But how do these apps work, what are they and what will they bring in the future?Chats, social networks, messages ... anonymity comes first!Immediate and anonymous: The Facebook counterpartMore than just emotions and gossipDangers and potentialx
Some of these applications, such as Whisper, have been on the market for several months. Others, such as Secret and Firechat , were released just a few weeks ago , surfing the wave of the trend in a matter of days to the top of the charts.Firechat, for example, " climbed into the top ten social networks in just 15 days in 105 countries ," says CEO Micha Benoliel. And just two weeks after market launch, a new user was added every two seconds.However, these messaging apps are different - each one has its own unique feature. Whisper is a cross between a social network and an instant messaging app , using a pseudonym. The messages consist of text and a background image and are shared publicly with other users. They can react or loven in turn On Secret to send messages in the same way. The big difference to Whisper is that you always communicate with your own contacts . If they like the news and click on love , the news reaches the friends of the friends. But the distribution of the news will always depend on your own contacts.Other apps like Firechat continue. They create a kind of group chat with people in their own proximity - without data connection or network area, thanks to the technology Open Garden .According to Micha Benoliel, the idea for Firechat goes back to the user demand for an app that can be used off-the-grid . In addition, the app should show the potential of the Open Garden technology in a way that everyone understands.Other apps like rumr or Truth are also anonymous, but offer a much more personal connection to the contacts . On rumr you can create chat rooms with friends. Every person who speaks has its own color. But nobody knows who is who. As the official page says, "it's like a conversation with the lights off."Truth goes even further. It can send anonymous messages to the phone of a contact, even if the other person has not installed the app on the smartphone.Micha Benoliel sees the advantage of Whisper in the quick start : "No registration and no account - this gives users more freedom to quickly express themselves and say what they want."The chief editor of Whisper , Neetzan Zimmerman, sees the main feature of the app in anonymity . That's what makes it a kind of anti-Facebook . Because Whisper is the place where you can share information that you do not want to post on social networks- where everything is associated with your name and image.According to Zimmermann, Whisper is supposed to become a kind of social whistleblower : a place where one publishes revelations rather than telling actual secrets.Although most messages include private confessions, users are not just teenagers in emotional frenzy . Also, many students frolic on the platforms and share their feelings.A few weeks ago, for example, a post on Whisper nourished the rumor that Gwyneth Paltrow cheated on her husband. A month later, the actress announced the breakup.As an article in the Nieman Journalism Lab reports, Whisper is working with the Huffington Post . They use the posts to knit stories, for example about the spread of marijuana or 10 reasons why the grandparents are the best. Recently, the creators of the app also entered into a partnership with chat4smile-chat room.The use of Firechat seems rather limited so far, it reminds of the old 90s chat rooms . 

In the beginning, enough to write strangers short messages and start a two-way conversation with friends.But the potential of this app has not really been discovered yet, says Benoliel: "The biggest benefit for the user is in the nearby window [an application tab, editor's note ]. It lets you share messages and photos with friends, even if access to the Internet is not possible. Firechat is an ideal solution, for example during a festival where there is almost no connection. Or for communicating in the subway or in the stadium. "In this sense, FireChat could become a kind of short-term social network , where, for example, opinions are exchanged for a football match, "with people nearby, in real time and more interactive than in comparison with Whisper or Secret ".As in every virtual meeting point on the Net , where anonymous beliefs, opinions and frustration are set out, Whisper , Secret and Firechat are also dangerousOn the one hand , anonymity helps to protect the user. On the other hand, the app will feed those who abuse the net like stalkers and trolls . This is especially true for apps that allow direct messages, like Truth . So far, however, the reactions are mostly positive.About Secret and Whisper also have incorrect information published, such as the alleged change of ownership to Evernote . Also, rumors are circulating, as in the case of the report of Gwyneth Paltrow. No one can argue against whether the apps mutate in the future to bullying instruments or perhaps the anonymity promise changes .In addition , traditional social networks like Facebook force us to always show our best side and to wear a kind of mask . The anonymous counterparts free the user from such constraints. Against this background, the public variants such as Whisper and Firechat are a groundbreaking developmentx
SOCIAL NETWORKS - EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONG TEENAGERS
Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc. - Young people like them, the social networks, and spend a lot of time accordingly: 80 percent of adolescents visit social networks daily or several times a week (JAMES study 2016).
Social networks belong to the generation of Web 2.0. This means that the user is not just a consumer of information as in the conventional Internet, but also a designer of web content - be it texts, photos or videos.

94 percent of young people have a profile

Social networks are particularly popular because they offer the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, to find those with the same interests and to communicate with them without delay, in real time. Anyone presenting themselves with their own profile will immediately receive feedback as to whether the presentation is important to the "online community" or not. This is especially attractive for teenagers. Thus, the majority of them have a profile in at least one social network: 94 percent are according to the JAMES study 2016. Instagram is the favorite - 81 percent of the young people have a profile there - closely followed by Snapchat.

What is a social network?

Social networks have become established with the spread of Facebook as the main social media for exchanging opinions on the Internet. These networks are called "social" because people interact with each other individually and in groups.

What distinguishes a social network?

Each social network consists of user profiles that users or companies can usually create for free. In the profile, individuals or companies can introduce themselves and send status messages to friends, customers, business partners or the entire network. Depending on the network, status messages consist of text, pictures, videos, links, locations or memes and can be viewed and commented on by other users. Some networks also offer mails or chat as communication channels.


The deliberate establishment of connections between the users within one or more social networks is also called social networking .



Facebook

With over one billion users, Facebook is the largest social network in the world. (As of 2013) [2] In addition to private use, Facebook also plays a major role in corporate marketing. Even state institutions are represented on Facebook.



THE TYPICAL FACEBOOK USER

More than 5o percent of Facebook users in Germany are between 18 and 34 years old. [3] The social network is mostly used by individuals to stay in touch with friends and to interact with others.



USE BY COMPANIES

Facebook offers companies numerous opportunities to represent themselves and to get in direct contact with interested parties and the target group. The so-called fan pages can be managed by several people together. The posting of pictures, texts, links and videos is possible. Individual contributions can also be advertised in order to achieve even more coverage. With multiple targeting opportunities, many companies are using the social network to increase their advertising reach.



BUSINESS MODEL

Since its IPO, Facebook has been financing itself through its shareholders' deposits and through advertising, which the company has displayed in a variety of ways.



CRITICISM

After being founded more than 10 years ago, Facebook is often criticized for being no longer innovative and up-to-date. So it took a very long time until Facebook had provided a solid working app. Likewise, for a long time hardly anything has changed in the appearance of the profiles. One of the most important and recurrent points of criticism is data protection, which manifests itself in both novel techniques such as face recognition software or the problem of the "like-button" on websites.



DATA PROTECTION

The data protection on Facebook is always in the criticism. Thus, Facebook reserves the right to use content from profiles commercially. After several adjustments, users now have the option of specifying in the privacy settings exactly which data from their own profile may and may not be public.



Google Plus

Google Plus is the social network of the search engine company Google . With almost half a billion registered users, it is the second largest social network in the world. In addition to the classic way of communicating with other users via status updates with photos, texts, links and videos, the network offers yet another form of communication with the so-called "Hangouts", a form of video chat.



THE GOOGLE PLUS USER

The typical user of Google Plus has his own Google account, with which he automatically creates a profile in this social network. According to statistics, Google Plus is used by older users. [4] . The main focus of Google Plus's use is more on business than on maintaining business contacts. Google Plus is also very popular in certain industries such as online marketing and here the SEO scene.



USE BY COMPANIES

Companies can create their own profile on Google Plus. The myBusiness account is used for this. Here it is possible to align the profile with the business type. As an integral part of Google's product portfolio, Google Plus profile maintenance gives companies the ability to add them directly to search results when entering their business name. At the same time, the business profile can also be used for advertising with Google AdWords .



BUSINESS MODEL

The social network is financed through the advertising revenue of the Google Group.



CRITICISM

Google Plus was often criticized for being a so-called "ghost network" because it had a lot of profiles but its owners did not actively use their account. This is due to the fact that a Google Plus account is automatically created when a user opens a Google Account. A Google Account is also a prerequisite for using a smartphone with an Android operating system. The rapidly increasing number of Android devices has therefore led analogously to increasing profile numbers. However, as Google is increasingly integrating its social network into its overall concept, so does the user activity on Google Plus.



DATA PROTECTION

The Google Group is generally repeatedly in the crossfire of privacy advocates. For example, Google Plus has complained that a public profile will automatically be created when a user opens a Google Account and that images published on Google Plus are automatically indexed as well.



Twitter

Twitter is a so-called microblogging service that allows users to share content with each other. With over 230 million active users worldwide, the service is one of the largest social networks in the world. The special thing is that for a contribution called "Tweet" only 140 characters are available. Users can comment on posts or "follow" other users. Hashtag lets you search all tweets for topics. Another special feature of Twitter is that all postings are immediately displayed in real time in the followers timeline.



THE TWITTER USER

The short message service is used in Germany for the most part by users between 14 and 29 years. [5] Through the social network, they can exchange views on current trends or parallel events. Older users mainly use Twitter to get informed in real time about political, cultural news.



USE BY COMPANIES

Companies often use Twitter to set trends or inform real-time followers about events at events. So Twitter is a popular medium for the rapid dissemination of news at events and press conferences.



BUSINESS MODEL

Twitter has long been financed by investors who were interested in user data. Meanwhile, Twitter also offers paid advertising to companies in the form of Promoted Tweets or Promoted Accounts.



CRITICISM

For a long time, Twitter was branded as an unnecessary addition to Facebook, as many people saw no sense in the short 140-character messages. In addition, Twitter was often unattractive to investors because the platform's advertising capabilities are limited.



DATA PROTECTION

Twitter has like all social networks from the United States again and again problems with the local data protection law. Among other things, the automatic creation of placemarks of mobile Twitter users has been deactivated.



XING

XING is a German social network that exists since 2003 and is used in Germany by more than 5 million members. It mainly serves to expand professional networks.



THE XING USER

XING is primarily used by members between 35 and 54 for business contacts. At the same time, users are interested in maintaining their own profile in order to use it as a reference for job applications or new customer contacts.



USE BY COMPANIES

Companies can create their own profiles on XING, which can be used to target or recruit new employees. In addition, the company profile provides the opportunity to provide proprietary information to the public.



In the so-called XING groups, companies as well as individuals can discuss topics together with other XING members.



BUSINESS MODEL

XING AG is part of the Burda Group and is listed on the stock exchange. At the same time, the network is financed by the subscription fees of its premium members.



CRITICISM

Criticizing XING is more of a general nature. Because there are no studies that measurably prove the benefits of a social network used for business purposes.



DATA PROTECTION

Anyone using the XING network must be aware that all data published by him is also visible. Nevertheless, it can be set in the profile whether the data can only be read by registered users and whether search engines are allowed to index the profile.



LinkedIN

LinkedIn claims to be the largest online professional network, operating in over 200 countries, with 200 million members. LinkedIn provides users with access to people, jobs, news, updates, and insider info. This is to ensure that users operate successfully in professional life. Compared to XING, LinkedIN is even more international.



THE LINKEDIN USER

Over 70 percent of LinkedIN users in Germany are between 35 and over 50 years old. [6] The users are primarily interested in developing business contacts and presenting themselves.



USE BY COMPANIES

Companies can use LinkedIN primarily to recruit new employees. Headhunters also use LinkedIN profiles to fill jobs with suitable candidates. Companies can also advertise on the social network with so-called LinkedIN Ads.



With its own company page, LinkedIN also offers companies the opportunity to present themselves to a broad target group.