A profile of Twitter users
by Celine Roque
Young, mobile, and social – that’s how Pew Internet’s newest study describes the majority of Twitter, Yammer, and other micro-blogging service users. Twitter’s growing popularity stems from the variety of uses people have found for it, from providing one’s status updates to friends, to a quick citizen journalist’s tool, to marketing channel, and many others. In a way, it has come of age, with the days of frequent downtimes behind it, and there’s no shortage of startups trying to offer similar services.
According to Pew, about 11% of American adults have been able to use this type of online service. The biggest slice comes from young adults, with around 39% of users coming from the 18 to 34 age bracket. Usage falls off with age, with only 10% of micro-bloggers among the 35 – 44 year olds, 5% from the 45 – 54 year olds, 4% for 55 – 64 year olds, and finally 2% for those 65 and older. However, the median age for Twitter users is 31 – not terribly young in comparison with other popular sites, such as MySpace (27) and Facebook (26).
Unsurprisingly, there’s a close relationship between the use of Twitter and other social media. Among members of online networks, 23% admit to having used Twitter or similar services. On the flip side, among those who shun social networks, only 4% are Twitter users. With bloggers, 27% use Twitter, in contrast with 10% for non-bloggers. Wireless connectivity is another major factor. Over three-quarters of Twitter users connect to the Internet wirelessly via laptop, PDA, or cell phone. One could argue that since tweets are typically short, they are ideal for those with an always on-the-go lifestyle.
The full report can be found on the Pew Internet and American Life Project’s website.
