The Steve Rubel Lifestream

Insights on emerging technologies and trends.

Search

Tags

Doodle: Where Do Social Networks Originate? The Young and the Geeky

Here's something I have been thinking about - as illustrated by the above doodle I threw into my notebook tonight. Perhaps this is too simplistic, but I have a hunch that if you want to zero in on the up-and-coming social networks, there are really just two demographic groups to study: the young, the geeky and sometimes both.

Think about all of the social networks over the years that were at first dominated by young people and then later went mainstream. Now think about the communities that first developed an audience with geeks and then later when supernova. These aren't mutually exclusive either. YouTube in many ways was a crossover hit.

What's your take on this theory? Are there other demographics that make or break a social network the way these two do? I can't think of any. Most follow in the footsteps of the young and the geeky.

Image credits: Teen on Flickr by TCollinsPhoto and Scoble and His Gear by Thomas Hawk.

Loading mentions Retweet
18 comments
Aug 04, 2009
Brad Garland said...
I'd agree with this broad assumptions, obviously niches are in these as well but I'm seeing another interesting explosion starting (albeit minor today) in the let's call it 'mommy bloggers' world. These are young women that have grown up using these tools with no objectives but are now relating in regards to kids, marriage, and all the life around them. Dooce, obviously, is one that starting this trend.
Aug 04, 2009
Amanda Mooney said...
Geek knows no age:) Maybe...
There are networks popularized by people trying to...
A. Find themselves (ex. StumbleUpon, Pandora)
B. Surround themselves (ex. Friendfeed, Facebook)
C. Define themselves (ex. Tumblr, Posterous)
D. All of the above (Twitter)
Aug 04, 2009
Scott Gould said...
Steve I have my own classifications, pretty similar:

"Digitall" - use digital tech because they love using digitial tech
"Digicool" - use digital tech because it's cool
"Digitool" - use digital tech as a tool to fulfill a need and that's it

Not wanting to self promote, but you can read more here: http://bit.ly/4yMfN

Aug 05, 2009
Nettie Hartsock said...
Love it! Go geeks go.
Aug 05, 2009
Scott Gould said...
Steve what service do you use for these doodles?
Aug 05, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
PowerPoint or Keynote

Aug 05, 2009
Scott Gould said...
Thanks Steve
Aug 05, 2009
So correct
Aug 05, 2009
Jennifer said...
Steve,

I'm neither young, nor geeky, but I love connecting with people and therefore enjoy Twitter and LinkedIn. I agree with Brad's suggested "mommy blogger" niche. In general, women are natural networkers. Blogging is an easy way to reach out to others with similar interests. And, you don't need to leave your home to do so, which makes it appealing to women with small kids at home.

Aug 05, 2009
Benjamin Karam said...
Its nice to see that Geeks are among the trendsetters these days :)
Aug 05, 2009
Guy McCullough said...
You might add "over-eager marketers searching for the next big thing."
Aug 05, 2009
Eric Schwartzman said...
I definitely think you're onto something.
Aug 05, 2009
mikehohnen said...
You know a lot a social shifts or trends originate with the young. Jeans, Cafe Latte, MySpace, SMS, Music (Jazz, Elvis, Beatles, Madonna take your pick) they are all trends that are youth initiated and then as youth gets older they take their habits with them in to mainstream. As they do older generations adopt them as well. So if you would like to know what the world will be like in 10 years - just take a hard look at what 18 to 23 year old's are doing. What we know as young people - do not grow up and change their ways ( become sensible seen from an older perspective) it is just that as they grow up what they do becomes grown up behavior with them
Aug 05, 2009
togetherlearn said...
Steve, there's a third category: people who share a passion for something. The WeLL took off because Deadheads needed a place for discussion and collaboration; many of them wouldn't qualify as "youth."
Aug 05, 2009
Eric Berman said...
Couldn't agree more! As a marketer I follow 2 groups to stay on the cutting edge: my little sister in high school and her friends; and the digital media blogger nerds.
Aug 05, 2009
charly said...
That's Correct, just with this point: Geeks are crossover, young, middle-age, old, girls, boys, mens...
Aug 10, 2009
edward boches said...
Then there are brands. It seems in their case it goes like this: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. Not sure they know yet what FF or Posterous even are. But they'll get there, too. And, in some cases, they may help to attract attention to the platform. For example, they went to FB after it became apparent that their target audience was living there. But in many cases, Wholefoods, Kogi, The Masters, Zappos, they went to Twitter before their audience was really there and helped attract people to the platform.
Dec 11, 2009
prps jeans said...
I have found so many interesting thing in your blog and I really love that Keep up the good work

Leave a comment...

 
Got an account with one of these? Login here, or just enter your comment below.
Posterous-login    Connect    twitter



 
Steve Rubel

Steve Rubel

Steve Rubel (bio) is SVP, Director of Insights for Edelman Digital, a division of Edelman - the world's largest independent PR firm.

He is charged with helping clients identify emerging technologies and trends that can be applied in marketing communications programs. He also explores these topics on his lifestream site, a monthly Forbes.com column and in a bi-weekly AdAge column.

Steve can be reached via email at steverubel@gmail.com.

Note: Everything posted on this site is Steve's personal opinion. It does not represent the views of Edelman or its clients.

Follow steverubel on Twitter

My Other Sites
               
Subscriptions