Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

smobot — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:59:27 -0000

I use it on a regular basis, and I don't really know! In fact, I'm starting to have my doubts that founder, Jack Dorsey, knows what he's going to do with it.

How would you describe it?

A news feed, an SMS tool (then I'd have to define that), a public-perception search engine, an IM tool, a social network, rss, a universal online communication ID, a Tweetmeme - referral engine... a public ... stalker's tool.

"What are you doing?" - Too many things to describe accurately.

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

acrowe — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:37:05 -0000

As a new twitter user, I would aggree with the findings. as i am over 30, and not many of my friends are on twitter.

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

unmarketing — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:36:56 -0000

Once my mom gets on Twitter, I'm logging off the Internet tubes forever

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

Jack Niu — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:12:28 -0000

It's reasonable, since twitter only popular in IT people and young.

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

SOakley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:55:34 -0000

Wait, so 69% of adults don't know enough about twitter to have an opinion, but at least 58% of advertisers think twitter is at least somewhat effective in promoting products and ideas. Does anyone else see the disconnect here.

I enjoy twitter, and certainly don't put all my eggs in one poll, but I've long believed twitter is a huge echo chamber of marketers and people involved in the internet industry. Great if you're an advertiser targeting that audience, but if you're target is that other 69% who don't know what twitter is, how many of them are you reaching through twitter.

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

Steve_Dodd — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:34:21 -0000

What is most interesting to me about all of this is the surveys seem to be missing something. We've seen Twitter stats published that say the vast minority of users generate the vast majority of the activity, people under 25 are the largest user community, and most expect Twitter's life expectancy is short etc. But, we also have significant proof that companies are generating real value through Twitter, not only the big guys, but also many small local businesses. We also know that many, many business people from many different professions ( I heard about funeral directors the other day) are meeting more contacts and having better discussions right across the planet than ever before. Any technology that grows virally starts at the bottom not the top. If the same study was done about Email, Skype, Google, Microsoft and even the Internet itself in their early stages of development, the results would have been very similar. Give it time to find itself. Even if it is displaced by something "better", its basic fundamental value proposition will continue to grow. Statistics like those flying around are only at a specific point in time and the questions asked normally are too general to get at the heart of what’s really going on. IMO the real value story is in the details. We need more details to really determine its future potential!

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

mamanunes — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:20:38 -0000

I think we will jump economies in social media. The Twitter is great, but I am among the 8 percent who believe it is a fashion that will pass. More will come.
Thank you for the excellent post.
\0_

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

Anderson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:01:26 -0000

"12 percent think it’s poised for exponential growth"

How dumb you gotta be ...

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

redwall_hp — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:12:58 -0000

"12 percent think it’s something that will stay relegated to “young people and the media,” while 8 percent think it’s just a passing fad."

First of all, "young people" generally don't have any clue what Twitter is either, or haven't really tried it. They're sticking with Facebook. Most of the people on Twitter are in the 23-40 range, or at least the people I care to follow. People my age don't have anything interesting to say, more often than not.

As for the whole "Twitter is a fad" thing, those people need to get over themselves. 90% of people who claim that haven't used the service enough to really understand it, or they're simply people who don't have any vision of the future.

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

James F. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:10:10 -0000

Nice stats. Twitter is huge already and has alot of growing to do; and this just solidifies that there are tons of people that know about Twitter, just haven't taken the jump yet.

- James Fn.
Owner, TwitterBackground.com

Re: What is Twitter? 69 Percent of Adults Don’t Really Know

Michael — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:05:04 -0000

We've found the same to be true in our industry. ~35% of people in life sciences use twitter, but 45% say that they don't and that they never will. We're putting on a webinar tomorrow to clear up many of the myths that come with the territory.