I have tried to grasp the value of Twitter for business and marketing, but I will admit that I am not of the techno generation despite being in the second largest group of Twitter users. However, a recent study by Pear Analytics validated my opinion of the site; it found that 40.55% of all tweets were pointless babble.
But what makes me doubt Twitter is where its long term value lies with the next generation of users. I have commented often that today’s middle and high school students (13-17) will represent a generation that does its communicating (of all types) and purchasing (m-commerce) from their mobile phones, not from a computer. Technology is advancing as rapidly as they are and they are in lock step with every change. But from an informal survey of local high schools students (one very close to me), Twitter is as popular as a bad hair style; “pointless” to many. Now the NY Times writer Claire Cain Miller has confirmed the same thing.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/technology/internet/26twitter.html
In just a few years this age group (13-17) that represents just 8% of Twitter users (www.quantcast.com) will enter the user group 18-34 that represents the largest segment of Twitter users at 43%. What does this mean for Twitter?
We as business people cannot under estimate the value of good communication in today’s world, but is Twitter the answer. We are a society that thrives on the 10 second sound bite, have we now denigrated to the one-liner. With the death of Senator Edward Kennedy today we are reminded of what many value in thier political candidates, sometimes more than where they stand on issues; that they are great speakers. Let's start talking again.
The eMarketer article
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007238
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