Over-50 crowd flocking to social media

While social media has long been considered the domain of college students and young professionals, an older generation is joining the crowd and spurring small businesses to start catering to a wider networking audience.

New research from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project has found that social networking among internet users ages 50 and older has nearly doubled in the past year - increasing from 22 percent in April 2009 to 42 percent in May 2010.

The report attributes the large growth to a desire to keep in touch with family and friends, reconnect with people from their past and seek information on chronic illnesses.

"Even though older adults may be among the most resistant to broadband, there is evidence that once these users get a taste of high-speed access, they often come to rely on the Internet as an everyday utility in their lives," the report said.

Young adults continue to represent the largest segment of social media users, though. However, many are experiencing "Facebook Fatigue," citing parents joining and too many older people as key reasons.