It’s a fascinating read–mostly because it highlights the difference in internet habits of C-level executives,  based on their age. Why is this important? Because those executives that are under 40 will likely, in the next 5-10 years, be the ones taking over the CEO role.

When they do, we’re going to see a dramatic shift in the way company executives research and contribute to the web.

And there’s good news for search marketers too!

Get your free copy of the report!

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From the press release:

"Michael’s operational insight and knowledge of the social media market will prove to be a valuable asset as we set out to evolve the MySpace product offering,” said Jon Miller, chief digital officer, News Corporation. “From a product perspective, there’s no better choice than Jason, who is highly regarded as an incredibly talented innovator, media executive and leader, all qualities I know will greatly benefit our team and our users.”

“We were attracted to Michael’s unique background in building and operating successful businesses that fall directly in our sweet spot, and I look forward to leveraging his skill set as we further refine and shape the MySpace vision,” said Mr. Van Natta. “Jason’s reputation for creating compelling consumer experiences that leverage the intersection of technology, design and media is unmatched and we’re excited to have him join us.”

“I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to build upon the successes of the company’s founders and am eager to work with Owen and Jon and the rest of the incredible management team at MySpace as we enter this exciting new phase in the company’s already revered history,” said Mr. Jones. Mr. Hirschhorn continued, “MySpace is one of the most alluring innovations of our time and I am honored to collaborate with Tom Anderson and the rest of the MySpace team to take what is already a stellar product into its next evolution.”

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When Yahoo was on a bit of a spending spree for social media-type startups, Delicious represented one of several companies on Yahoo’s shopping list. Delicious offers a social bookmarking service, where people can keep and share the links they find interesting.

The site’s continued development will happen without its founder, as Schachter intends to leave Yahoo. Several Yahoo executives left or plan on leaving Yahoo before their annual meeting takes place on August 1st.

TechCrunch learned from Schachter of his impending departure. “The development of the new version of delicious seems to have almost stalled within Yahoo, and Joshua cited recent frustrations with the process as playing a part in his resignation,” said TechCrunch.

Schachter has no current plans for other projects, unlike other high profile departures like Jeremy Zawodny and Vish Makhijani. Both men have new jobs awaiting them in their post-Yahoo lives.

Delicious continues on as well. The Delicious blog announced the release of its add-on for Internet Explorer. An add-on for Firefox has been available for quite a while, and this gives Delicious the potential to be a fixture on a lot more browsers than it is today.

It remains unclear when and why Kadaba and Glaser will leave; Kara Swisher, who broke the news, determined they’re not being thrown out immediately, at least.  Still, it’s likely they were given a bit of a nudge, since Yahoo is under pressure to streamline its operations and improve its market share and profit margins.

Swisher notes, “[T]here have been yet another passel of high-level executive departures of late . . . Vice President and Editor in Chief of Yahoo! News, Finance, and Sports Neil Budde, Marketing VP David Riemer and VP Jennifer Dulski, who headed shopping, travel, autos, real estate and local.”

We’ve also watched as Andy Baio, Jacki Kelley, Joanna Stevens, and Cammie Dunaway have moved on.

Oh, well.  This exodus might make Yahoo a lightly crewed wreck, but it could also turn the Sunnyvale-based entity into a slimmer, stronger company.  Yahoo might even become a nicer place to work – Owen Thomas once received word that Glaser can be unpleasant, and added, “Rumor has [it] that former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel banned Glaser — like Semel, an air commuter from L.A. to Yahoo’s Sunnyvale HQ — from the corporate jet.”

Though I was offered an opportunity to talk to Tim Kopp, the Chief Marketing Officer of WebTrends whom I have met on several occasions, I could not talk to him because I was in a hurry to put my post out and also Tim had already provided his view to the press and I did not expect to hear anything other than what he already told others.

Now Eric Peterson reported that Tim Kopp is the latest executive to depart Webtrends.

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According to BrandRepublic, that’s the key message in Social Networking Across Europe, a new report from Jupiter Research published last week.

Jupiter’s executive summary says this:

Localized site launches by MySpace.com and Bebo are aiming to drive European adoption of social networking sites, and the corresponding trend toward user personalization will increasingly lead to deconstruction of existing providers’ applications and content.

The report costs $1,500 (ouch!). That also gets you a 30-minute phone discussion with the analyst who wrote it.

In summarizing the report, BrandRepublic says that the UK has benefited from the English language bias of international social networks to become the country in Europe most attuned to social networks.

Offering different languages and different services according to nations is the key to gaining a large user base throughout Europe, the report found.

The growth of social network usage generally has prompted some reporting recently on the risks you can run online, eg, identity theft.

In the UK, this week (November 12-16) is Get Safe Online Awareness Week. The website (and related blog) has useful information on staying safe online.

Worth paying attention to, whether you’re in the UK or elsewhere.

Related post:

• Today’s social networked world

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Mary Jo Foley posted a compact statement from Microsoft regarding Scott’s firing: “We can confirm that Stuart Scott was terminated after an investigation for violation of company policies , and have no further information to share.”

Given the dramatically quick nature of Scott’s dismissal, certain speculation has been raised. Valleywag cited a tipster’s claim that Scott and a female VP reporting to him both took emergency family leave at the same time, suggesting an affair was taking place.

Valleywag also recalled the departure of Martin Taylor, a Microsoft executive who was out of the company a day after the debut of Windows Live Messenger, which he had a role in promoting.

Owen Wilson at Valleywag picked up on a tip about Taylor, which claimed he not only enjoyed an affair with a co-worker, but charged his weekend hotel trysts back to the company.

Yet lengthy delays in getting the Vista operating system to market, and Microsoft’s need to acquiesce to OEM demands that they be allowed to continue offering Windows XP to customers, hasn’t resulted in anyone being fired in the lofty peaks of the corporate apparatus.

The survey found that more than 50% of online advertisers in Europe have run advertising campaigns that encourage user interaction and two thirds will do so in the next 12 months.

Viral marketing campaigns are the most common form of engaging an online audience, BrandRepublic says, but profiles on social networking sites and interactive websites are growing fastest, according to the report.

Jupiter’s executive summary shows these conclusions from their research:

• Landscape: Social marketers focus on engaging users, but fail to measure their efforts
• Outlook: As marketers increase their engagement efforts, measurement and reach will remain problematic
• Mandate: Marketers and agencies must combine technology-based and survey-based measurement to understand user engagement

As I’m not a Jupiter client, I haven’t seen the report itself. But reaching out and not measuring the results? That makes little sense.

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But the Berkeley Digital Media blog said Sprint’s Rick Robinson categorically stated Xohm would tear down the wall to complete, wireless Internet access:

Sprint Nextel is clearly not afraid of being reduced to a bit-pipe (a reason most often attributed for the restricted Internet access from your phone). They are confident that a new content delivery model that is Ad supported, will let them earn from the Ad delivery and distribution.

As to the future of that ad support, one need look no further than Sprint’s Xohm portal partner, Google. Though Google has only been announced as the portal builder for Xohm, one has to believe Sprint would want to tap Google’s advertising expertise to monetize the service.

Yahoo Sheds Another Executive

Regional VP Stephen Taylor came to Yahoo when the Internet company picked up Overture, which became Yahoo’s search marketing arm. He’ll follow Greg Coleman out the door in the wake of Yahoo’s latest reorganization.

MarketingWeek UK said Taylor isn’t leaving because of the changes on the US side. Those changes have seen Yahoo president Sue Decker’s close associate, Hilary Schneider, continue to gain power within the company.

"There are a lot of interesting things going on in the industry and I’m having many conversations with lots of interesting people, but can say no more than that," Taylor told MarketingWeek of his departure.

Whatever the reason, Taylor is leaving at the end of what has been a pretty good news week for Yahoo. Analysts from Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers have made positive comments about Yahoo’s stock, and set targets in the $30-$31 range for it.