Social Media and Mobile Phones

Social Media is changing the way we communicate with our mobile phones. Not only are people texting and calling, but they are now logging into the social media accounts and tweeting, posting, tagging, blogging etc... to communicate with their circle of friends.

What does this mean though? More people blocking the way in shops and streets because they're absorbed in their portable social media bubbles, forcing you to do the awkward squeeze-past-fail-miserably-dance? No? Apart from that, here are the stats about what's going on.

Social Media Statistics

Flurry- a mobile analytics company published insights in November 2012 as to 'Time spent per App Category on WW iOS & Android Smart Devices. The results were as follows;

  • Games 43%
  • Social Networking 26%
  • Entertainment 10%
  • Utilities 10%
  • News 2%
  • Productivity 2%
  • Health and Fitness 1%
  • Lifestyle 1%
  • Other 5%

Some other general facts about social media and mobile phones include;

  • 1/2 of all Facebook & Twitter users check their accounts on their mobile devices occasionally
  • There are more than 100 million active users currently accessing their mobile devices
  • People that use Facebook on their mobile devices are two times more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.

What do you do?

Do you use Social Media on your mobile phone? If so what are you using it for? Which sounds most like you from the following statistics of Social Media users?

  • 47% The Browsers - the ones who aimlessly browse through social networking sites... just to observe what's going on. Or perhaps they're just waiting for that friend of a friend who's in love with them self to upload a new profile photo so they can have a laugh at their new attempt of 'the duck' pout.
  • 62% The Messenger - sending and receiving instant messages with your friends is the reason why they're connected. These are the ones that would suffer the most if suddenly the Internet went down and were plunged into a dark abyss of social-media-less-ness.
  • 29% The Posters - the ones who post to message boards, maybe the more old-school amongst us, joining in on forum topics such as 'what are you listening to at the moment?', 'Post a picture of your desktop here', 'Is this rash normal *inappropriate picture alert*.
  • 35% The Commenters - giving their opinion on their friends updates and posts, whether they want it or not.
  • 34% the Chatter Boxes - using the chat facilities on social networking sites at all times, throughout the day, keeping up to date with the latest gossip.
  • 33% The Photo Fans - the ones who love the visuals they post photos on social network sites, some may feature puppies sporting an 'I Love you' T-shirt others may be of a well known celebrity caught without make-up or with too much make-up *gasp in horror*
  • 33% The Sharers - the ones who forward items through a social networking site to spread the message. Their most common thought when using their Social Media on mobiles is 'Oooo that's good/funny/disgusting, I should forward that to everyone I know'.
  • 28% The Taggers - the ones who enjoy tagging themselves and others in photographs. You may sometimes feel anger towards these sort of social media users, when you check your Facebook account Monday morning and realise that you have been the victim of one of your tag-happy friends highlighting you in an embarrassing Friday night drunken state.
  • 24% The Bloggers  - the ones who read, write and comment on blog posts. Even the ones who have nothing to say, they will still blog about it. For Example 'An average day in the life of average me - featuring my morning routine'.
  • 29% The Professionals - the serious ones who connect with other like-minded professionals on their mobiles via social media and are never ever victims of 'The Taggers' (see above)

Are we living Virtual Lives with Social Media?

Whoever you are, where ever you are and what ever you use social media for on your mobile phone; e.g.  Mrs Johnson, in the bathroom, browsing through the neighbours new 'I've just decorated my living room' album pics. You are contributing to the new emerging patterns of modern society's behaviour, which begs the questions; are we living more virtual lives than real?

To provide insight to this question, please answer the following would you rather questions;

  • Would you rather have one bad hair day in real life OR a less than flattering profile picture on your social media for one day?
  • Something has irritated you and you've had a long, stressful day. Would you rather call up a close friend and vent your anger OR post your opinion on Facebook for all your friends to read about.
  • Would you rather call up an old friend and arrange to meet in order to catch up on each others lives OR just read their profile activity on their social media accounts?

So, are YOU living a more virtual life?

Conclusion

Mobile Phones are changing social media and have led to a huge increase in their usage. You can access your social media accounts just about anywhere. So with more people present on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, there is a bigger opportunity for social media marketing.

Social Media Marketing will be featured in our next blog post - so keep an eye out for it. Those of you who own a business will benefit with some top tips and those of you who don't will find out how marketers are reaching out to you in your little bubble.

If you want some more information about how Social Media can be used to help shape your online presence why not have a look at our Social Media Marketing Page?

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