The results of an extensive web survey conducted by Jacobs Media reveals that social networking sites, like MySpace and Facebook are the catalysts for first-time personal encounters. Overall, 27% of those familiar with these types of sites say they have met someone personally after first communicating online. These face-to-face meetings are especially common among 18-34 year-olds, one-third of which have gotten together with someone they first communicated with on one of these sites.

"This trend is a clear indication that for many, social networking sites go well beyond computer encounters, and can be the start of personal relationships," notes Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs. "This is also an indication of how the Internet is evolving beyond information to socialization."

In this survey of over 25,000 Rock radio listeners from around the U.S., 14% describe themselves as active participants on social networking sites, while one-third (35%) say they are better described as more casual users. By a small margin, women are somewhat more active on these sites, while 18-34s are especially apt to be regular participants (24%).

It is notable, however, that older listeners use these sites with some regularity as well. "We were surprised," notes Jacobs. "When you think about MySpace and similar sites, you think teens or twentysomethings. The reality is that adults are clearly using these Internet meeting places, too." Overall, nearly half (46%) of the 25-54s participate on these sites at one level or another.

MySpace is the social networking site of choice. Among the entire sample, four in ten are visitors/participants on MySpace (39%), followed distantly by Facebook (8%). Interestingly, Classmates.com is mentioned by one-fourth of respondents (24%), with the strongest participation coming from women and 25-54 year-olds. "Clearly, there’s a strong interest in reconnecting with high school and college friends," Jacobs points out.

By format, the story gets even more interesting. For Alternative fans, it’s MySpace by a long shot – but Facebook has developed a following, too. Nearly two-thirds (64%) have some participation on MySpace, while 17% use Facebook. Note how nearly one-fifth have some involvement with Classmates.com (21%).

Among Mainstream Rockers, MySpace also dominates. Half (49%) are either active or more casual participants, while about a quarter use Facebook (26%).

And while a plurality of Classic Rock fans (44%) have no involvement with any of these social networking sites, the standout, by a narrow margin, is Classmates.com (24%), followed closely by MySpace (23%).

Jacobs Media’s Technology Web Poll III is the largest study of its kind, conducted in late February/early March 2007, among more than 25,000 respondents across 69 different Rock-formatted stations. It is the third annual Technology Poll, conducted among Rock radio listeners who are predominantly members of station email clubs. Participating stations represent Mainstream/Active Rock, Classic Rock, Alternative, and Triple A outlets in markets around the U.S.

Of course, this is a web poll, and cannot replicate all radio listeners or even all Rock radio listeners. As with all Internet-based research projects of this kind, the results reflect only those who chose to participate in the survey, and do not necessarily represent the views of all Rock radio listeners in the country. Still, the 69 radio stations that invited their listeners to take the survey are a broad cross-section of Rock stations, from large and small markets, as well as those that play the newest Rock music and those that play only Classic Rock.

Jacobs Media is the largest Rock radio consulting firm in America, providing research and consulting services to major radio broadcasting companies. The company created the Classic Rock format, and works with Alternative, Active Rock, and Triple A formatted stations.