InfoTrends: Social networking sites continue to dominate online photo sharing

The new 2011 U.S. Image Sharing Forecast from InfoTrends, Weymouth, Mass., projects the number of camera phone photos shared online will nearly double from just over 11 billion images in 2010 to nearly 22 billion in 2015. Already, more camera phone images are shared on social networking sites than by other Web sites and e-mail combined, and this is expected to continue through the forecast period. By 2013, more digital camera images are also expected to be shared on social networking sites than the other methods combined as well.

Improved image quality, ease-of-use, built-in connectivity, and affordable handsets and data plans make smartphones the ideal sharing device. Likewise, the rapid growth of social networks makes it easy to connect and exchange information and media with friends and family regardless of location.

“Consumers are viewing and sharing their photos in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago, and the ability to share photos straight from the picture-taking device has become essential. Digital imaging vendors and service providers must adapt to these changes and provide consumers with a simple and convenient way to transfer their photos from their capture device to other viewing and sharing channels,” stated InfoTrends’ Alan Bullock.