CNET: Five major trends in social networking in 2012: Mobile social networking will gain great development

On December 29, 2011, the American technology information website CNET published an article signed by Rafe Needleman. This article made five predictions about the development trend of social networks in 2012, including that mobile social networks will gain great development, Twitter's brand promotion role will increase, the presidential campaign will rely heavily on social networks, Google+ will be successful but lack a large number of users, and Facebook and Yelp will be successfully listed.

The following is the full text of the article:

Facebook is now the dominant social network and will be a huge driver of activity and innovation in 2012. However, it is not the only force behind the scenes. Here are five trends that will shape the development of social networks in 2012:

1. Startups will drive the development of mobile social networks

In the United States, most consumers will soon have smartphones. Smartphones know where you are, who your friends are, who is nearby, and thanks to NFC technology, where and what you are shopping for. Smartphones will be an important medium for the development of mobile social networks.

Facebook is serious about mobile social networking, but it's not a leader in the space in terms of design or technology. Startups like Path and Milk are preparing to launch new mobile social networks. Square will also be involved. All of these services are likely to use Facebook's network to make new connections between people or businesses. In addition, more professional mobile networks will be launched next year.

2. Twitter will play a bigger role in brand promotion

Although Twitter brand pages will not occupy much advertising or marketing budget next year, they will play an important role. Twitter is a very effective platform for spreading brand information through consumers and fans, and brands can build effective promotional plans on Twitter without spending much money.

In 2012, although Facebook will still be the most important and outstanding social marketing tool, Twitter will play a greater role in brand promotion due to its simplicity and effectiveness.

3. The 2012 presidential campaign will rely heavily on social networks

Social feedback and link sharing can play a significant role in presidential campaigns. For example, the campaign video of Texas Governor Rick Perry's 2012 presidential campaign has generated a huge response on YouTube and other networks. In 2008, the campaign website MoveOn also made an important contribution to Obama's presidential campaign.

In 2012, major political campaigns will rely more heavily on social networks, as effective social campaigns will become more important than increasingly expensive TV ads. Candidates will not be successful without strong support from the major social networks.

4. Google+ will still be successful but lack a large audience

Google+ has a lot of cool features, but it still has a long way to go to compete with Facebook and Twitter. Even if Google integrated Google+ into all of its other services, it still wouldn't be enough to compete with Facebook, which already has 800 million active users.

Compared to Facebook and Twitter, Google+ does not have enough capabilities for brand promotion. Even within Google, not many employees use Google+.

5. Facebook and Yelp will have successful IPOs

Zynga's IPO wasn't as bad as people criticized it for, with its stock price down only 5% from its offering price at press time. In other words, its stock price isn't too high or too low. If its stock price doesn't fall further, its mediocre performance won't likely dampen hopes for social network IPOs in 2012. In the social networking space, Facebook and Zynga are two sides of the same coin, and the success of one IPO will inevitably lead to the success of the other.

2012 will be a watershed year for startup IPOs. Both Facebook and Yelp will go public in 2012. As Facebook's IPO date approaches, interest in the company's stock has become increasingly high. Its popularity will be talked about by the media, politicians and underwriters, and will be seen as a proof of the United States' advanced technology and developed economy. From a financial perspective, it is too early to determine whether the IPO price is appropriate. However, Facebook's influence is growing day by day, it is currently profitable, and its successful IPO will inspire every social company. Currently, all parties are actively preparing to ensure its IPO success.