Comments on: The Tizzy over Twitter and Teenagers http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:57:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: steve Dodd http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189784 steve Dodd Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:34:21 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189784 Hey Mark, I tend to agree that teens are not typically using twitter. I've talked to many who don't even know what it is. I'm seeing many twitter users claiming that it is becoming thier news feed and not something they regularly "converse" or socially chat over with out some common purpose. Teens typically do not have that kind of need and are far more interested in the kind of Facebook functionality that shares pictures and more social discussions amongst a typically closed group of friends. As far as the statistics that are out there are concerned relative to age demographics, the samples are so very, very small (7/10 of 1% or 80,000 or 11.4 million), I'm not sure they are all that accurate. Plus, since the stats also show a very small number of twitter users actually seem to be using it, how many of those registered teens are actually using it? Given that the Sysomos report doesn't show activity by age, I'm wondering if there was enough data to even support it. Plus, I'm wondering if most of the "teen" group got caught up in the Kutcher / Oprah factor which generated wild signups will little ongoing usage. Hey Mark, I tend to agree that teens are not typically using twitter. I've talked to many who don't even know what it is. I'm seeing many twitter users claiming that it is becoming thier news feed and not something they regularly "converse" or socially chat over with out some common purpose. Teens typically do not have that kind of need and are far more interested in the kind of Facebook functionality that shares pictures and more social discussions amongst a typically closed group of friends.
As far as the statistics that are out there are concerned relative to age demographics, the samples are so very, very small (7/10 of 1% or 80,000 or 11.4 million), I'm not sure they are all that accurate. Plus, since the stats also show a very small number of twitter users actually seem to be using it, how many of those registered teens are actually using it? Given that the Sysomos report doesn't show activity by age, I'm wondering if there was enough data to even support it. Plus, I'm wondering if most of the "teen" group got caught up in the Kutcher / Oprah factor which generated wild signups will little ongoing usage.

]]> By: Will Robertson http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189775 Will Robertson Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:23:41 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189775 As someone who is 20, I know very few people my age or younger that are on Twitter. They are without a doubt on Facebook though. As someone who is 20, I know very few people my age or younger that are on Twitter. They are without a doubt on Facebook though.

]]> By: Fred Snodgrass http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189774 Fred Snodgrass Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:01:09 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189774 Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be losing sight of the fact that teens see their friends pretty much all day every day at school? Yet how many of us adults - with jobs, spouses, and kids, can say the same? Would any adult who uses Twitter regularly be using it as much if they spent five days a week with their peer group? Teens supposed lack of usage of Twitter is more likely a result of lifestyle versus their willingness to accept it for what it is. Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be losing sight of the fact that teens see their friends pretty much all day every day at school? Yet how many of us adults – with jobs, spouses, and kids, can say the same? Would any adult who uses Twitter regularly be using it as much if they spent five days a week with their peer group? Teens supposed lack of usage of Twitter is more likely a result of lifestyle versus their willingness to accept it for what it is.

]]> By: markevans http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189773 markevans Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:59:38 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189773 Erin, Thanks for the insight. The reality is Twitter is popular within a small handful of niches - tech geeks, marketers, public relations, etc. Maybe the rest of the world will come around in time to Twitter...or not. The most important thing is a lot of people find it to be a useful, interesting and valuable tool...and that's okay. Erin,

Thanks for the insight. The reality is Twitter is popular within a small handful of niches – tech geeks, marketers, public relations, etc. Maybe the rest of the world will come around in time to Twitter…or not. The most important thing is a lot of people find it to be a useful, interesting and valuable tool…and that's okay.

]]> By: Erin Bury http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189771 Erin Bury Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:41:56 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189771 I think you're absolutely right Mark - his view is completely anecdotal and doesn't really provide an accurate snapshot of the average teenager. That being said though, I'd have to agree with him about his view of teenager and Twitter - and I'd extend that through to the mid-twenties (excluding people in the tech industry). I'm 24 and less than 5 of my friends have Twitter, and only 1 of them updates frequently (and she is more concerned with following Anderson Cooper and John Mayer than learning valuable information). To be honest, if I wasn't in the tech industry I doubt I'd have Twitter either. I completely believe it will catch on to every demographic in the next few years - but right now, it hasn't taken the 14-24 group by storm. I think you're absolutely right Mark – his view is completely anecdotal and doesn't really provide an accurate snapshot of the average teenager. That being said though, I'd have to agree with him about his view of teenager and Twitter – and I'd extend that through to the mid-twenties (excluding people in the tech industry). I'm 24 and less than 5 of my friends have Twitter, and only 1 of them updates frequently (and she is more concerned with following Anderson Cooper and John Mayer than learning valuable information). To be honest, if I wasn't in the tech industry I doubt I'd have Twitter either. I completely believe it will catch on to every demographic in the next few years – but right now, it hasn't taken the 14-24 group by storm.

]]> By: luca filigheddu http://www.markevanstech.com/2009/07/14/the-tizzy-over-twitter-and-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-189770 luca filigheddu Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:37:11 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=4923#comment-189770 I've been told teenagers (under 13 at least) don't smoke cigars and don't buy cars = who really cares they don't use Twitter? Who did say Twitter is for teenagers? I never thought so ;-) I've been told teenagers (under 13 at least) don't smoke cigars and don't buy cars = who really cares they don't use Twitter? Who did say Twitter is for teenagers? I never thought so ;-)

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