When social networking in the United States started to take off halfway through the past decade, it was primarily younger Americans who became hooked. In August 2006, 49 percent of American internet users aged 18-29 were social network users, as opposed to 8 percent of those aged 30-49 and only 4 percent of those aged 50-64.Since then, social networking quickly gained popularity and became a true mass phenomenon. By the end of 2012, adoption among 30-49 year-olds had almost caught up with 18-29 year-olds, and almost a third of Americans aged 65 and older were social network users.After an initial outcry by many who were shocked to find their parents on Facebook, it is now common for American families to stay in touch using social networks.