NEWS: Those wrinkles aren't from squinting YouTube, Myspace, computer gaming -- a big chunk of users approach middle age

News/Social Networks/Web Culture/Joe Garofoli
Found on: sfgate.com

New media is no longer just the province of the pubescent. A growing share of its audience is old. Ancient. Like, even over 40.

According to a September study of YouTube users by Nielsen NetRatings, a leading online analyst, one-third of the video sharing site's audience is over 45 years old. The same research found that more than 30 percent of the folks flitting about social networking powerhouse MySpace.com are between 35 and 49; 27 percent are over 45. A third of iTunes users are in their wealth-building years. Even the audience for Xanga.com, a less-heralded online social networker, is stumbling toward middle age, with 20 percent of its population over 45.