Charities fail to attract young people with social networking

4 September 2009 Neil Puffett Youth Work

Many charities are missing the opportunity to recruit children and young people as campaigners and donors via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a survey has found.

Research by think tank nfpSynergy found that five out of six (83 per cent) of 11- to 25-year-olds use at least one social networking site.

However, less than half (48 per cent) of 187 charities surveyed last year reported having a presence on such websites.

The study found that out of the children and young people surveyed, those who are regularly involved with charitable work or make donations are more likely to use social media than those who don't.

Jonathan Baker, researcher with nfpSynergy, said: "This new data shows that the vast majority of young people use social networking sites.

"That use is particularly prevalent among those claiming regular charitable involvement. This gives charities a cheap and highly personal way to engage with potential young campaigners and donors via their own chosen online social milieu."

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