The Number of online adults to use classified ads websites, such as Craigslist, has more than doubled since 2005. The number of online adults who have used online classified ads has more than doubled in the past four years. Almost half (49%) of internet users say they have ever used online classified sites, compared with 22% of online adults who had done so in 2005. On any given day about a tenth of internet users (9%) visit online classified sites, up from 4% in 2005. These are the main findings of an April 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project survey. They highlight the growing importance of such sites to internet users and reflect the changes in the audience for classified ads – both those who place them and those who make purchases – that have devastated a key revenue source for traditional newspapers. The figures also underscore the growing social role of online classified ads. On May 13, Craigslist eliminated the controversial ‘erotic services section of its site and said it would manually review every ad posted in a new ‘adult services section it had created. The move came after […]