Social media has made a huge impact in Latin America. Like other regions of the globe, the tools and technology have been adapted and used in new ways to engage the connected generation.
Every network has seen rapid population growth in Latin America over the last year. By far the most popular social network, Facebook has more than 127 million users. 1 out of every 4 minutes online is spent on Facebook. Twitter and Orkut (its users are almost exclusively from Brazil) follow next, both with user populations of more than 25 million. In Latin America, 60% of social media users are under 30. Of the total online population, 96% are engaged in social networks according to a 2011 study by comScore.
With so much engagement, how are Latin Americans using social media? And with a large and active youthful population, what trends are emerging? How might Latin Americans be using social media differently than we do in the U.S.?
Today we'll try to answer these questions and more in a Google+ hangout with some of the region's brightest social media thought leaders. Join us at 9 A.M. EDT to discuss digital trends in advance of Mashable's worldwide Social Media Day celebration on June 30.
Here's who you can expect to hear from in today's Hangout:
José Ignacio Stark Valenzuela is a technology analyst and digital strategist based in Santiago, Chile.
Florencia Lujani is an online community manager at TBWA Buenos Aires.
Dionisio Guerra is an editor at Tecla a Tecla and Social Media Day organizer in Panamá.
Anderson Marques de Andrade is the co-founder at MobMob and Social Media Day organizer in São Paulo.
Rudi Borrmann is the director of open government for the city of Buenos Aires
Read on to learn more about Social Media Day and find a Meetup near you. Let us know in the comments what social media looks like where you live.
Ways You Can Participate
Sign up to attend or organize your own event on the Mashable Meetup Everywhere page.
Use the #smday hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and any other social network of your choice.
Find your Mashable Meetup community:
How Are You Celebrating?
Whether you've had your event planned for months or are now inspired to get one started, we want to know: What are your plans for Social Media Day 2012? Share with us in the comments how you'll be recognizing the connected generation come June 30th. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Social Media Day 2012 Is Presented By Motorola Mobility