Summary
Social Networks (SNs) are now a widely used Web 2.0 application, allowing users to connect to others in a “friendly” online environment defined in many ways by the user themselves. Besides communicating with families and friends, making business connections, and playing social games, consumers increasingly rely on SNs to get pre-purchase recommendations on a wide variety of products and services. This report offers insight into the impact of such recommendations on the consumption and purchase of media, in particular books, music, TV shows, and movies.
This document analyzes the social network population in terms of several segments:
- Engagers (those that have consumed media because of a friend’s recommendations) and Non-Engagers (those that have not); and
- Buyers (those Engagers that have purchased media because of a friend’s recommendations) and Non-Buyers (those Engagers that have not).
Additionally, it offers a detailed profile of each of these consumer segments, including demographics, use of video-on-demand and online video services, and a variety of other characteristics.
Table of Contents
Key Findings
1.0 Project Overview
1.1 Purpose and Purview
1.2 Methodology
2.0 Social Network Use in the U.S.
2.1 Undisputable Uptake
2.2 Even (or Especially) among Adults
2.3 Accessing Social Networks on Mobile Devices
2.4 Social Network Use by Demographic
3.0 Gauging the Impact of Social Media Recommendations on Media Purchases
3.1 Overview
3.2 Impact of SN ―"Friend's" Recommendations on Media Consumption
3.3 Impact of SN ―"Friend's" Recommendations on Media Purchases
3.4 Impact of SN ―"Friend's" Recommendations on Web Video Consumption
4.0 Explicating Key Social Network Media Segments
4.1 Engagers versus Non-Engagers
4.1.1 Relative Size of Engagement Segments
4.1.2 Demographic Comparison
4.1.3 Video Consumption Comparison
4.1.3.1 Use of PayTV Services
4.1.3.2 Use of PayTV Video-on-Demand Services
4.1.3.3 Amount Spent on PayTV VoD Services
4.1.3.4 Use of Online DVD Rental and Purchase Services
4.1.3.5 Use of Online Digital Video Streaming Services
4.1.4 Influence of Retail Website-Driven Recommendations
4.2 Buyers versus Non-Buyers
4.2.1 Relative Size of Segments
4.2.2 Demographic Comparison
4.2.3 Video Consumption Comparison
4.2.3.1 PayTV Service Subscriptions
4.2.3.2 Use of PayTV VoD Services
4.2.3.3 Use of Online DVD Rental/Purchase Services
4.2.3.4 Use of Online Pay-per-View Services
4.2.4 Influence of Retail Website-Driven Recommendations
5.0 Reflections & Recommendations
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Social Networking Websites Used by Adult Consumers
Exhibit 2 – Mobile Social Network Use among Adult Internet Users
Exhibit 3 – Use of Social Networks among Specific Demographic Segments
Exhibit 4 – Impact of SN ―"Friend’s" Recommendations on Media Consumption
Exhibit 5 – Impact of SN ―"Friend’s" Recommendations on Media Purchases
Exhibit 6 – Impact of ―"Friend’s" Recommendation and Online Video Consumption
Exhibit 7 – Sizing the Segments: Engagers versus Non-Engagers
Exhibit 8 – Demographic Comparison of Engagers and Non-Engagers
Exhibit 9 – Social Network Media Engagement Status by Age Segment
Exhibit 10 – Use of PayTV Service Subscriptions by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 11 – Use of PayTV VoD Services by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 12 – Monthly Expenses on PayTV VoD Services by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 13 – Online DVD Rentals and Service Use by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 14 – Use of Online Digital Video Streaming Services by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 15 – Impact of Retail Website Recommendations by Engagement Segment
Exhibit 16 – Relative Size of Buying Segments
Exhibit 17 – Demographic Comparison of Buyers and Non-Buyers
Exhibit 18 – SN Media Purchase Status and Age Segment
Exhibit 19 – PayTV Service Subscriptions by Buying Segment
Exhibit 20 – Use of VoD by Buying Segment
Exhibit 21 – Use of Online DVD Rental/Purchase Services by Buying Segment
Exhibit 22 – Use of Online Pay-per-View Services by Buying Segment
Exhibit 23 – Impact of Retail Website Recommendations by Buying Segment