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Pew Internet announced a report they released on Twitter usage. You can download the PDF report over here.
Everyone is talking about the 8% figure. 8% of Americans are on Twitter. Wow! Most people think that is a small number, to me, that is huge. I bet it doesn't compare with Facebook, but 8% of American's have used Twitter! That is big.
But they also say 21% of those Twitter users don't read content on Twitter. They may post content, but they do not read content. In a sense, it might be automated or just random tweets or they might not tweet at all. Either way, about a quarter of Twitter users don't really use Twitter. Almost half barely use Twitter - they check in every week or so, which is not the way to use Twitter - ask any Twitter user.
So I'd say probably 50% of the 8% really use Twitter. So maybe that number is closer to 4% of American's use Twitter. Maybe that number is more realistic.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
Vlad Piersec
12/10/2010 01:54 pm
Yeah! Good point here. Everybody likes numbers but few try to understand them.
Forte Web Solutions Ltd
12/10/2010 03:14 pm
I have quite a few followers who simply register follow a few people and never tweet again
Jay
12/11/2010 01:20 am
Saying that only posting on twitter without reading on twitter you might as well be a robot or not use twitter is a little idiotic and overlooks the concept that almost everywhere contributing is regarded higher than consuming. Either way one cannot exist without the other
Jonathon Hewitt
12/11/2010 07:42 pm
That is still 12 Million Americans! Which I think is somewhat of a low number considering what Wikipedia is stating about Twitter worldwide... "It is estimated that Twitter has 190 million users, generating 65 million tweets a day and handling over 800,000 search queries per day" - Wikipedia Not bad for a company that is actually run by less than 30 people.
Sandra | Get Relationship Back
12/12/2010 03:03 pm
I have around 170 followers, but only half are real. I wonder how many corporate twitter accounts, internet marketing accounts, etc. are included. There are probably way less than 12 million Americans using it - but the heavy users probably tweet on several accounts.
Mark - worlds largest plr sell
12/13/2010 11:10 am
Twitter always has credibility issues compare to Facebook. Though it has taken several steps to filter the spam, with new interface, apps etc...the behavior of majority of twitter users still, always focus on marketing content/links which is one of the reasons I assume some of us even hate it!
Doug Hay
12/13/2010 06:32 pm
Reading and posting is kind of missing the boat. The real test of a good social media tool appliction is engagement. Retweets and direct messages are a good indicator of that.
Claiborne House B&B
12/13/2010 08:07 pm
and another 50% use it to sell and get contacts to scam...so we are a small minority on twitter who really ENJOY IT. I love the links and info.
Joshua
12/14/2010 12:34 am
If bars, cafes, restaurants, stores, event venues and offices used Twisplays, more people would read interesting, informative, entertaining and interactive Twitter.
Styliciouslysocial
12/14/2010 04:53 pm
I love using twitter for local traffic updates during morning and evening rush hour!
Bulk SMS Reseller
12/29/2010 07:51 am
More truth about twitter: 75% of stool description not interesting. Twitter stock 99% garbage.
bulldog21
03/24/2011 12:59 pm
twitter sucks
headjay
10/24/2012 04:03 pm
Who cares what all these tweeters are thinking? Twitter is the dumbest development in the whole evolution of the human race.