There have been a various studies/research that have determined that certain social networks are favoured by people with common demongraphics.

Some research I read in a report on marginalised youth and their access to technology (by the INSPIRE Foundation, Australia) noted that Hi5 and Bebo were preferred by particular cultural groups/age groups and that other networks were more appealing to other groups. I can dig up the report and see which ones for which.

(As a side fact-let, it was found that marginalised youth had access to technology and that the ‘great digital divide’ was more about how youth, health and education used technology - or didn’t as opposed to the youths in the study).

I would not surprised to see a similar phenomenon across social networks but would expect to see a great variation on who was being excluded.

Social networks are like virtual clubs and many clubs tend to be frequented by a similar clientele (and often are a little bland as a result). I prefer the real life pubs, spaces and places I frequent to be a mish-mash of people or with changing groups depending on the entertainment but each to their own.

Thanks for sharing Vint.

I love your blog… it’s fantastic. Yours and Dandellion’s are among my favourites.

Though not SL vs RL (no SL friends on it and only 1 or 2 internet friends at all, too much RL information on Facebook). In my case mostly Finnish friends vs Flemish friends.