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Adults are doing it. Using online social networking sites, that is.

Two-thirds of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, more than double the percentage that reported social networking site usage in 2008, according to a new surveyreleased Friday by the Pew Research Center.

And for the first time in Pew Internet surveys it means that half of all adults use social networking sites. Among the Boomer-aged segment of Internet users ages 50-64, social networking site usage on a typical day grew a significant 60 percent from 20 percent to 32 percent. “Many Baby Boomers are beginning to make a trip to the social media pool part of their daily routine,” Mary Madden, Senior Research Specialist and co-author of the report, says.

The rise is driven by all ethnic and age groups, but women stand out as the most avid users, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Seven out of 10 women said they used the social media sites, compared to six in 10 men.

If you’re one of the many older Americans working, or planning to work, into your 60s for the extra income boost and to keep shoveling cash into your retirement funds, you should be one of the new acolytes. If not, get aboard.

For 50-plus workers, technology can be a stumbling block to finding a job. Many employers are dubious about whether older workers are at ease using Internet tools. Moreover, most job searches nowadays are via the Internet – yep, social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and most recently, Google + have transformed how you job hunt.

As I note in Too Old for The Job? 5 Strategies For 55+ Job Hunters, you must be comfortable with computers and basic programs, navigating the web, e-mail, and mobile technology.

There’s a view out there that once you cross over the big 50, you resist learning new technology. Not cool. For those of you who are looking to switch into a new career or build a small business, it’s even more important to prove them wrong.

To help you steer through the latest landscape, here are six social media moves.

1. Become a LinkedIn member. I view LinkedIn as the social media tool for every job seeker. For companies, it’s where they go these days when they have a job to fill. For you, it’s a fast way to build a far-reaching professional network. And in a harsh job market, networking rules. I can’t lay its importance on thick enough. Stay active on it. Join alumni and industry groups.  Try connecting to a few new people each day.

As I wrote in this post– Want an Unbeatable Résumé? Read These Tips from a Top Recruiter, LinkedIn actually does help people in their job searches. It’s easy to create a profile and begin linking to new contacts. You can update regularly and get recommendations from colleagues, previous bosses, and clients. You can research companies and individuals you want to target, connect with former associates, and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.

To help you get rolling, LinkedIn has a Learning Center that offers a new-user guide and clear directions for creating a profile. There are special guides to help a myriad of users from small businesses to entrepreneurs, job seekers, students, and nonprofits. For a good tutorial on getting started, read my colleague’s Susan Adams’ postMake LinkedIn Help You Find A Job.