Are there really lots of non-collegiates on Facebook?

You better believe it.

Blogger Law X.0 [a blog written, apparently, by a few law librarians] pointed out earlier this week that, according to stats published on another blog, the percentage of Facebook users aged 18-25 decreased from 51% in May to 46% in Sept. The largest growing demographic groups on Facebook are teens (13-17), young adults (26-34), and middle aged professionals (35-44). The blog qualifies the teen group's growth by stating that it is "driven by non-US markets." See: Link # 1

According to stats provided on the website of the "digital agency" iStrategyLabs, the young adults segment on Facebook (25-34) grew 98% between Oct. 2007 and June 2008 and the middle aged professionals + segment (their group is defined as 35-54) grew a whopping 173%. See: Link # 2

What's this blog about?

Initially created in 2004 as an online forum exclusively for college students at Harvard University, the social networking website Facebook has grown far further than its creators might have ever envisioned. Facebook is now the leading social networking site for college students on campuses across the country and in other parts of the Western world. Along the way, Facebook has attracted the attention of advertisers, academics, investors, technology enthusiasts, middle aged professionals, and others.
Facebook Beyond Campus will take a studied look at the different ways non-collegiates use and view Facebook, to look for trends as well as to note the how older participants' engagement with the site differs from collegiate uses.