Uptake of social media is levelling out for younger people.

Parcel delivery firms wanting to make use of social media to market their services may find the biggest area for growth is with older internet users, it has been claimed.

According to Tom Smith, managing director of Global Web Index, the fastest growing sectors of the population for using social media are the 35 to 44, 45 to 54 and the 55-plus age groups.

"We often think that things are growing extremely fast, but in terms of social media it's become very established now," he said.

Mr Smith went on to say that there is a changing pattern across different markets, with Russia, for example, a "video driven market".

"There are a lot of Russian video websites, and we see that video is a strong alternative to using news," he added.

According to a poll carried out by Age UK, one three people aged over 65 believe they would have had a better education if the internet had existed when they were young.

The same survey found that there are over six million people in this age bracket who have never gone online.

Posted by Laura Rathbone

Article Added: 01/10/2010 16:46:45