With more than 20,000 fans on Facebook, the ARRL Facebook page is the number one spot for hams on the Internet’s most popular social networking site. Not only is the ARRL page the most popular Amateur Radio page on Facebook, it is attracting many  young -- and not-so-young -- hams to share their opinions and ham radio-related news with other hams.

According to Facebook demographics, more than 460 people between the ages of 13-17 are fans of the ARRL’s page, with 74 percent of users below the age of 55 (Facebook breaks down its statistics in age groups of 13-17, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55+). Since September 2010, hundreds of users post their own comments on the page, make a comment on a post or “like” a comment each week. The ARRL has been active on Facebook since July 2010; since that time, the page has been viewed almost 14.5 million times by fans and non-fans alike. The ARRL also has a Logbook of the World Facebook page. Premiering in June 2011, this popular page has almost 1000 ham fans.

“We are excited to have such a strong presence on Facebook,” said ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, who serves as the Chief Administrator of the ARRL’s Facebook pages. “Through our page, we try to showcase Amateur Radio fun by using interactive status updates, articles from the ARRL website and photos from events that are happening all around the world. Personally, I really enjoy seeing what other hams have to say about their love and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.”

While US hams make up the vast majority of users on the League’s Facebook pages, hams from all over the world -- including Indonesia, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Spain, the Philippines, Germany, France, Greece, Turkey, Australia, Argentina, India, Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Brazil -- are active, too. “Facebook only gives us the top 20 countries represented that visit our page, but I know from personal interaction with hams that we have more than just those 20 countries visiting us every day,” Keane explained. “We invite hams to ‘like’ the ARRL and the LoTW Facebook pages and leave comments. Joining Facebook is free, and you just might be surprised at who you’ll find on the site.”