So you thought social networking was young and cool, did you? Well think again. According to the latest research it’s us oldies who are taking over social networking sites – and we’re doing it in droves.

Media researchers Nielsen Online says in a report that over two-thirds of web users worldwide take part in “member communities”, which include social networking site and blogs.

It’s even more popular than email, with one in every 11 minutes online being spent social networking and blogging.
Apparently a third of Facebook’s global audience is aged 35-49 and almost one quarter is over 50. In the UK if present trend continue then by mid-June there will be as many 35-49 year olds on Facebook as 18-34 year olds.

Even the relatively-new Twitter is beset by oldies, with 71 per cent of British users now over 35 and more than quarter aged 50-plus. Maybe Stephen Fry wasn’t so far away from the norm as the national papers seemed to think when they featured him twittering from a lift a few weeks ago.

But it’s you young people I feel sorry for. Come up with a good online idea, and what happens?  In this hyper-connected world people of all ages jump on the bandwagon and muscle their way to the front. And what started off as alternative becomes mainstream and then fuddy-duddy before you know what you are doing.

You have to keep your wits about you. Just imagine – if you’re not careful you’ll be chatting online with people who turn out to be the sort of naff adults who do the Birdie song at your divorced auntie’s second wedding. On behalf of all of you — Yuk!