Some new data about adults and digital social network use in the US and around the world: Adults are much less likely than teens to have a profile on a social network website. About three in ten (35%) adult internet users age 18 and older have a profile on a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn.

If you’ve already started incorporating social media into your communications strategy and have done any research on it at all, you’ve come across the advice to LISTEN FIRST. People are constantly posing questions and talking about the challenges they face on social media and networking sites. Correct misconceptions.

Although you know I hate to fan your social media flames, here are the latest social media usage stats from the Pew Internet Project. Some highlights: 46% of online American adults are social network site (SNS) users. Only 10% of SNS users are ages 55+ (oh well, now I’m less interested again).

Open to Change looks at Millennials across all dimensions — lifestyle, technology use, social and political attitudes — often including comparisons to older generations. I’m sure you’ve seen other data on Millennials use of social nets, mobile technology etc. The Millennials: Confident. Connected.

Here’s the latest from Pew Internet Research on Seniors use of online social nets. As of May 2010, 47% of American internet users age 50-64 use social nets like Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace, and 26% of those age 65+ do so.

Expanding on an Agitator post of several weeks ago, here’s some fresh demographic data on social net usage from Harris Interactive. No surprise … usage goes up with education, and down with age. For example, 74% of those ages 18-34 use Facebook or MySpace, while 24% of those 55+ do so. Have you voted yet?

There’s lots of fresh data floating around on usage of social nets. Other research delves into social net penetration and usage by key audiences. The spread of social nets into older age segments has marketers salivating, as this Ad Age article illustrates (registration required). Tom Belford.

Here is their take on Boomers and social media: "Let’s agree social networking is simply not as widely accepted among Boomers and older adults as it is among today’s young adults. Generally, they aren’t looking to expand their social system. And … maybe it never will be." million users).

Causes was without doubt a trend-setter from the outset, being one of the very first apps to be launched after the Facebook Platform toolkit was made available – enabling the development of 3rd party Applications (Apps) that integrate directly with Facebook user data. Provision of quality support and fundraising ideas for Causes users.

Here’s a fun account from MediaPost of the phenom of Boomers joining the world of online social networking. 34; The article notes that the number of Facebook members ages 55+ grew 194% in the last half of 2008 compared, for example, to only 21% growth for those ages 18-24. Your parents just joined Facebook.