Pet lovers are just as likely to share photos of their beloved animals as parents of new born babies are. In fact as a demographic , pet owners are some of the most dedicated photo takers, sharers, commentators and reactors that there are on Social Media.
But whilst taking a photo of your pet and posting it on Facebook or Instagram for the world to see is regarded as a reasonable and understandable thing to do…. what about creating a Social Media account for your pet?
Just before the summer this year Mars Petcare US, the world’s largest petcare company, announced the results of a survey exploring how pets have invaded pop culture, even becoming megastars in their own right, all thanks to the power of social media.
America is the land of extremes but the when a company such as Mars, which owns well known brands such as Pedigree and IAMS conducts detailed research such as this it really highlights how much people love animals.
Jam Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications at Mars Petcare. “From increased health, social skills and physical activity to reduced rates of stress, depression, and heart disease, our animal companions play a significant role in making our lives – and our world – better. What we uncovered in this unique survey only supports our mission further: people adore their pets and celebrate them every day. We’re proud to share the positive impact pets have on our overall well-being, regardless of the medium used to spread the word.”
All Animals, All the Time
About 65 percent of pet owners post about their furry friends on social media an average of two times per week.
- One in six say they’ve created a social media profile specifically for their pet – and half of those pet owners say their pets get more social attention than they do!
- One third said they post about their pets as much (and as often) as they do about their human family, and 13 percent admitted to posting about their pets even more than they do their human family!
Pet Love Trumps Personal Vanity
More than half of pet owners polled care more about getting ‘likes’ and/or comments for their pet-related posts than they do for those most other topics, including changes to their own profile picture! Whichever way you throw the ball, pet posts matter most.
Call them the Paw-Purratzi
30 percent of pet owners follow famous animals on social media!
From dogs and cats filling up social media feeds (some even with their own profiles) to true pet celebrities who command the attention of millions, animals have become a major part of our digital lives.
Brits living in Spain are widely known for their care for animals and their support for locally based animal charities. If this increased use of Social Media can help highlight the individuals and groups, whose tireless work goes towards those animals in need, then this is a wonderful example of community engagement evolving from online chatter to real world action.
Check out the list of pet only Social Networks here
Find out more about Mars Petcare US survey here