The number of adult internet users (those ages 18 years and older who go online) who have a profile on a social networking website has quadrupled in the past four years, rising from 8% in 2005 to 35% now. Even though a higher percentage of online teens have profiles (65%), adults make up a much larger portion of the public than teens, so they also account for the bulk of all users on social networking sites. Still, younger online adults are much more likely than their older counterparts to use social networks, with 75% of adults 18-24 using these networks, compared with just 7% of adults ages 65 and older. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.