“1/3 of Adult Internet Users have a Profile on a Social Networking Site, Up from just 8% in 2005″

There was an article in USA Today recently that talked about how Baby Boomers are heading online to participate in Social Networking. We generally talk about using social networking for professional reasons but this article in particular focused more on the differences in uses by generations. The boomers who are mostly just getting online now are looking to make friends, catch up with old acquaintances and keep in touch. USA Today notes that the biggest difference between generations is the interest in making new friends. Older generations are looking to find like minded people, chat and get to know them while younger users are there to see what their current friends are doing, not to find new ones. Either way people are truly embracing the popular technology and it is changing society, “affecting everything from TV viewing habits to the way companies peddle products.”

As part of the article, Josh Quittner of Time magazine gave some suggestions geared towards those individuals over 40 that are joining the online social network revolution. Although a little cynical, I do think he offers some valid basic advice. Read on for fun and think about what you are or shouldn’t be doing with your online networks.

BEHAVE LIKE AN ADULT ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

• It’s not Las Vegas:“Think twice before uploading that amusing photo of you wearing boxer shorts on your head,” says Quittner. “What happens on Facebook does not stay on Facebook.”
• Don’t share the love: “When Vampire Poke Stick or another such wacky application asks you to invite all your friends, ignore it. Frankly, you’re the only one who thinks that app is funny. Your friends are sick of getting spammed with stuff like this.”
• Resist the spotlight: “Every now and then, maybe once in 14 months, it’s OK to start a group celebrating your first book of poetry or the opening of your photo exhibit. But it’s better to have someone else do it for you and best if you don’t do it at all.”
• The world is reading: “Remember that when you post a comment on someone’s page, everyone can see it. You might think this is obvious but the fellow who posted a love couplet to ‘my steamy escargot’ did not.”
• Get real: “They’re not really your friends.”

Like I said, a little cynical but spoken with an honest truth. Many people get caught up in the 1,000′s of ways you can personalize your profile and forget what social networking is all about – connecting with people.

What do I want you to take away from this:These tips are a great reminder that social networking can be used very differently for business and pleasure. The way you would treat your profile if it were strictly for fun should be very different from that if you are using it as a business tool. Remember your purpose, revisit your goals. If all you want to do is reconnect with old friends and keep in touch with others, using your network for fun is perfectly fine but just remember that others may be looking you up online. Business contacts, potential partners, investors or clients, may be looking you up on Facebook or Twitter – will they like what they see?

If nothing else it’s a reminder that what you put online is public. It represents you and forms the perception that people have of you. Build a positive online identity because it’s guaranteed that someone will be looking for you!

The USA Today article has a lot more examples of boomers using Social Networking to connect with new friends, read the full article here.