Online reputation company Rapleaf has released a new study of 49.3 million people, revealing gender and age data about social network users. On most of the main social networks - including MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Hi5 - women outnumber men by a considerable amount. On Facebook, the 18-24 age group is largest, with 1,685,029 women in that age group compared to 977,753 men. In MySpace, the same age group dominates, with 7,091,214 women and 5,226,788 men.

In the face of astonishingly high unemployment rates among enlisted military personnel returning to post-war life, a nonprofit group is empowering soldiers with social networking savvy to help them transition to the civilian workforce. Using the community and social networking features of YourMembership.com and online relationship management services donated by Salesforce.com, Hire a Hero is combating a 22% unemployment rate among junior enlisted personnel looking for post-military employment.

"Kick off your shoes, slide into your "Blue Fuzzy Slippers," and put your feet up, says, Sherri A. Baldy, BFS President and CEO. "It’s time for a fresh new approach to those great American pastimes Shopping, Selling, Socializing and Searching the four S’s that have been the backbone of the Internet almost since its creation." Sherri A. Baldy is the first woman to ever create a social network of this level. she is now taking it all a step further. You can now sell in your network on Blue Fuzzy Slippers right on your profile page!

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The boom of the social networks is also at the agricultural sector. In April, the firm CI2T www.ci2t.es created the especialized network AGRO 2.0 www.agro20.com and it has already more than 500 members. Mr. Francisco Larios, co-founder of the network says to be surprised with the success of this site, with visits from around the world, particularly in the Spanish speaking countries.

The growing success of Facebook - now well ahead of MySpace - has forced the latter to revamp itself, building on its core strength of music. If MySpace becomes more of a niche player, albeit a huge one, then it may simply be part of a trend. Niche is the new buzzword. There are already lots of niche networking sites including linkedin.com, plaxo.com, xing.com and asmallworld.net. But there are new niche networks in the pipeline including two - would you believe it - from Britain with global ambitions.

GeorgeMedia Web Holdings announced today its launch of ThirtySpace.com, a new social network exclusively for people in their thirties. Like most social networks ThirtySpace.com will allow it's members to post photos, bios, music, videos, and post bulletins. The key difference being that this site will allow its members to socialize with people that more closely share their interests. No children or young adults and no pedophiles searching for victims.

Academic Network, an award-winning medical and health communications firm, is now offering new services to help clients practice safe consumer engagement in the emerging world of Health 2.0 -- the use of social media for collaboration between patients, caregivers, medical professionals and other stakeholders.

Facebook and Chinese IM (instant messaging) champion Tencent look set to join the battle for China's social networkers, as both have launched Chinese sites recently. The Chinese version of Facebook appears to be the more elusive, as it began popping up on Thursday, and only to certain users of the site who are based in China. Even visitors going to Facebook's ".cn" domain are still routed to the main English homepage. "

In the Internet age, keeping pace means cultivating contacts at a mean clip. Hence the big news at LinkedIn, the online social network aimed at working professionals: On Wednesday LinkedIn announced that it nabbed $53 million in venture funding from the likes of Bain Capital, Greylock Partners and Sequoia Capital, setting the company's valuation at a juicy $1 billion.

The spawning of online communities and social networks has significantly changed the way businesses market to consumers. In the past, marketing initiatives were pushed on consumers. These days the information is being shared and discussed. Consumers now use blogs, wikis, social networks and other tools to communicate and connect with one and other and to share ideas, knowledge and feedback about your brand and it’s important for you to listen and participate.

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