Social media has exploded in popularity over the past few years. And it continues to grow at a rapid pace with no end in sight.

A recent Nielsen study indicates Americans spend as much as a QUARTER of their time on social networking sites and blogs. See the Nielsen study here.

Another Nielsen study found teens spend as much as two hours per day on the Internet, with EIGHTY percent of that time dedicated to social network use. See the Nielsen study here.

While most social media use is innocent, there are those who abuse other users on social networks such as Facebook, Craigslist, MySpace and LinkedIn. This abuse is serious and can cause embarrassment, emotional distress and mental anguish. It can also tarnish a professional image or even hurt a brand name.

Abuse can also be in the form of wasted company time. A recent study by a British employment agency polled 1000 workers and found nearly six percent of the workers spend as much as an hour a day on social networking sites. See the entire Reuters news article here.

Social networks are still evolving and changing on a day-to-day basis, and Hughes investigation stays on top of these changes so we can help you with these types of abuse and misuse.

Social Network Intelligence

Beyond abuse, social networks often reveal intimate details about a person's family, friends and lifestyle. When engaged in litigation with another person or company, or a divorce or custody case with an ex-spouse, social network intelligence can make the difference between winning and losing your case.

Similarly, social network intelligence uncovers useful data if you are completing an asset investigation, due diligence, or a background investigation.

Utilizing proprietary techniques we developed and crafted over the past several years we are able to gather data and other information from most social networks.

• Workplace Misconduct
• Cheating Spouses
• Human Resources Hiring and Firing Decisions
• Corporate Information Leaks and Breaches
• Lifestyle Investigations
• Fraud
• Digital Copyright Violations
• Software Piracy Investigations
• Traffic Analysis
• Check Out Your Date / Background your Date

On an extended and ongoing basis, we expand investigations to include:

• 
  Lifestyle monitoring
• Teen, Tween and Child Monitoring
• Workplace Monitoring

• Divorce Cases
• Child Custody Cases
• Criminal Defense
• Restitution Harings
• Workmen's Compensation Hearings
• Background Investigations
• Asset Investigations
• Due Diligence
• Pre-Employment Investigations
• Workplace Termination

Typical Cost Social Network Intelligence or Investigations: $400-$600
or
Hourly Budget