Fortune 500 CEOs shunning social media: Study

70 per cent have no social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Google Plus

CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are participating in social media channels significantly less than the general public, according to a study sponsored by Domo and CEO.com, an online resource featuring news and best practices in business management.

However, CEOs are more active on one social network — LinkedIn — than the general public, found 2012 Fortune 500 Social CEO Index. More than one-quarter (26 per cent) were on the site, compared to 20.15 per cent of the general public.

But on other major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus, the presence of Fortune 500 CEOs was minimal at best, with only 7.6 per cent on Facebook, four per cent on Twitter and less than one per cent on Google Plus. By contrast, more than 50 per cent of the United States population uses Facebook and 34 per cent uses Twitter.

“The results came as a surprise considering that social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are part of the daily fabric of life,” said Josh James, Domo founder and CEO. “We really expected to see more social engagement from CEOs, especially since the benefits of social media are no longer just wishful thinking. CEOs who use social media are growing their businesses, attracting lifelong customers, generating exposure for their companies and closing new deals. As consumers become more social savvy, so must company leaders. We expect to see CEOs getting more and more social in the near future."

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