Would it help to look at social networks as an alternative term. For example, LinkedIn claimed 15 million users last I looked, Xing, 4 million, and specialized sites are beginning to appear such as GlobalEdge, a site for those interested in international trade, with 32,000 signed up. Aliabad, another trade site, indicates 2 million users. While online communities have been around for many years, it seems that under the guise of social networks within the context of Web 2.0, the concept has taken off in a large (commercial?) way this past year. FWIW, Wikipedia's article about Social Networks includes a table listing registered users for a number of sites. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites and Nielsen-Netratings has some stats http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_060511.pdf. I haven't done any serious research on this topic, just a quick Google search to suggest this approach as a potential idea to explore further. Amelia, MarketingBase Amelia Kassel's Mentor Program for Information Professionals Online Research Training and Consulting Expert CI, Market, and Internet Research Part-Time Faculty and Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications School of Library and Information Science, San Jose State University 707 829-9421; Fax: 707 823-2713 http://www.marketingbase.com; mailto:amelia@marketingbase.com -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Tanya Notley Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 2:03 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-L] online community statistics Hi Lorraine, The World Internet project have this question on their research agenda (http://www.worldinternetproject.net/). I know that the latest US study produced by Annanberg School for Communication, USC ('2007 Digital future Report') asked people if they were members of an online community. The overview provided on the above website provides some info on this. As a researcher you can request a copy of the full report. You will find that while they talk about online community members they do not give overall stats for online community membership. They do have these stats; they provided them to me recently. Again, you can request this information from them. I think that at least some of the other World Internet Project studies have this info as well. If you find out, please do let me know! Cheers Tanya ________________________________________ From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Lorraine R Buis [buisl@msu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, 12 December 2007 6:31 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: [Air-L] online community statistics Hello all, I was wondering if anyone out there has any citations for updated statistics/estimates of the number of Internet users who use online communities. The most current estimates I can find are from a 2001 Pew Internet & American Life report that indicate that approximately 100 million American Internet users have used an online community. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Lorraine Buis, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/ _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/