Hey, Social Networker. Buy this!

Advertisements are popping up and have been popping all over social networking sites. Sites such as Facebook and MySpace seem like the opportune way to get a product out to the younger generation since so many Generation Y-ers are tuned into those sites. But are the consumers actually buying what they see on their MySpace page?

An article that can be found here addressed the fact that companies are targeting 18-24 year olds through ads on blogs and social networking site. The sites are described as “built for specific interest groups”, making it even easier for the advertiser to find consumers. It makes sense. Google has done something similar with their Gmail by making ads pop up that have to do with certain key words in emails that you write. An article, here, shows how big companies, like Ebay, are running to get their name on sites like MySpace.

But are these ads effective? One would think so because they are targeting specific consumers. However, is Generation Y even going to notice them? In the article posted here social networkers are said to be “immune” to ads on sites. Most people are still said to rely on word-of-mouth references, and not offers from ads.

Only time will tell if advertisements on social networking sites will have a positive impact on companies, but the only sure way to lure in the young generation is to come with something new: something that will catch the eye of the young consumer, and not something he or she will just dismiss as another cliché advertisement.