Corridor firms plan study of Midwest social media trends

Two Corridor businesses unveiled plans Wednesday for a study they hope will help provide a better understanding of how individuals and businesses use social media.

Social Scene Midwest will be conducted by Coralville-based Brand Driven Digital and Vernon Research Group of Cedar Rapids using online individual and business surveys.

The study will target Iowa and other Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The survey reportedly will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Vernon Research Group President Monica Vernon recently entered the race for the Democratic nomination to fill an open U.S. House seat in Iowa's 1st District. She also is a member of the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Social Scene Midwest wants to get a sample size of 1,000 participants in each survey to get a "clearer, more in-depth picture of social media trends in this region alone," according to a news release.

The study will include quantitative metrics on individuals' and businesses' use of social networks including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social Scene Midwest also will include information on the use of Instagram and Vine.

The study also will examine several qualitative issues over concerns of privacy, degree of attachment to social media and what Midwesterners first think of when they hear the term "social media."

Results of the study will be released later this summer.

To take the survey, visit

Social Scene Midwest. Participants can choose to be emailed the results.