New data from comScore shows what many Facebookers might have already guessed:  Social networking really means time spent on Facebook.

Ben Elowitz broke down the data on his Digital Quarters blog today, which reveals that Facebook accounts for 95 percent of social networking time in the U.S.

In his blog post, Elowitz adds:

In terms of being relevant to consumer audiences, there’s now no question that “social” means “Facebook.”

And, if you want to take advantage of the more than one  in every seven  minutes of online time that consumers spend on Facebook, you follow one simple rule for media in a social age: You must be present — in the Facebook news feed — to win.

Readers, do you agree with these numbers showing Facebook is the dominant social networking site?

China continues to block Facebook but one of the country’s largest social networks, Renren, plans an initial public offering in the U.S.
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The Pope himself has given a blessing, of sorts, to online social networking. Pope Benedict XVI has made a statement regarding social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace as ways to foster friendships and understanding in his annual message today for the World Day of Communications. According to the Associated Press, Benedict welcomes as a “gift” new technologies like social networking sites, as they respond to a “fundamental desire” of people to communicate.

Yes, that’s one of the great things about online social networks. It enhances individuals’ ability to communicate, and all of the features offered through such social networking is a direct result of their fundamental desire to do so. The way in which social networking has manifested online very much reflects the way in which we communicate in the offline world.
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