Finding Love

Nearly 11 years ago I met my wife via an online matchmaking service. Neither one of us remember which one, but at the time it was considered a novelty.

Not anymore.

Here's some recent numbers regarding what we are finding via Social Media:

Social Media Not All Good All The Time

Results of The Harris Poll of 2,331 adults surveyed online between December 6 and 13, 2010 show that 40% of Americans have received a good suggestion for something to try as a result of their use of social media, 15% say they have made a connection regarding a job opportunity, and 9% say they have found a new apartment or house through their social media use.

Had Positive, Tangible Benefits, From Being Active On Social Media (Base: All Adults; % Of Respondents)
	Yes (Net),	Yes, frequently	Yes, on occasion	No, never	N/A do not use
Received a good suggestion for something to try	40%	7	33	25	35
Made a connection regarding a job opportunity	15	3	12	50	35
Found a new apartment or house	9	3	6	56	35
Source: Harris Poll, January 2011

While 65% of U.S. adults are using social media and say they have received a positive benefit from its use, younger Americans claim positive benefits as a result of their social media use much more often than do older adults. 59% of Echo Boomers (those 18-33) say they have received a positive suggestion for something to try from their activity on social media, compared to 44% of Gen Xers (those 34-45), one third of Baby Boomers (those 46-64) (34%), and just one in five Matures (those 65 and older) (19%). Similarly, one quarter of Echo Boomers have found a job opportunity through social media (24%), while only one in ten Baby Boomers say the same (11%).

Positive, Tangible Benefits, From Being Active On Social Media (All Adults By Age Group; % Saying "Yes, Frequently" Or "Yes, On Occasion")
		Generation
Benefit	Total	Echo Boomers (18-33)	Gen X (34-45)	Baby Boomers (46-64)	Matures (65+)
Received a good suggestion for something to try	40%	59	44	34	19
Made a connection regarding a job opportunity	15	24	19	11	4
Found a new apartment or house	9	17	9	5	2
Source: Harris Poll, January 2011

Despite all of the benefits people are receiving from their social media use, 43% of social media users say they have been offended by posts, comments or pictures they've seen, and 26% say that unintended persons have viewed links or comments they've posted. Only 7% of social media users say they have suffered the consequences of getting in trouble with school or work, or losing a potential job opportunity because of comments or pictures they posted online.

Had Negative Experience As A Result Of Being Active On Social Media (Base: Social Media Users; % of Respondents by Group Saying "Yes, Frequently" Or "Yes, On Occasion")
		Generation				Gender
Offense	Total	Echo Boomers	Gen X	Baby Boomers	Matures	Male	Female
Been offended by posts, comments or pictures I've seen	43%	51	39	43	28	38	48
Unintended persons viewed links I posted or comments I made	26	37	29	17	13	30	22
Got in trouble with school or work because of pictures posted of me online	7	12	9	3	-	10	4
Lost a potential job opportunity because of pictures or posts I've made online	7	11	8	3	-	10	3
Source: Harris Poll, January 2011

Social media networks are increasingly offering privacy settings to combat negative experiences, notes the report. 78% of social media users agree that potentially negative experiences can be prevented through the use of these privacy settings, with three in ten strongly agreeing.

In addition, 71% of social media users are confident that their own privacy settings operate in the way they intend, but only 18% say they are very confident, while 25% say they are not confident. Only 5% of social media users say they do not use any privacy settings at all. Younger adults who use social media feel more strongly both that privacy settings can prevent negative consequences, and that they are confident in their own privacy settings.

Confidence In Privacy Settings Selected On Social Media Account(s) Function As Expected (Base: Social Media Users; % Of Respondents In Group)
		Generation
	Total	Echo Boomers	Gen X	Baby Boomers	Matures
Confident (NET)	71	78	76	61	68
Very confident	18	24	22	11	8
Somewhat confident	53	53	54	50	59
Not Confident (NET)	25	19	20	33	27
Not very confident	18	16	15	23	17
Not at all confident	7	3	5	10	10
Source: Harris Poll, January 2011

The report concludes by noting that social media services have brought both good and bad for users, but there is a possibility that as more people use social media, and do so casually, that they will become less careful with their settings and the 7% who have suffered more serious consequences will grow.

For more information please visit Harris Interactive here.