Jeremy Liew posts some interesting snippets from a Harvard Business Review case study on Twitter.
The median number of tweets per Twitter user is ONE:
I wonder if Twitter usage will always be more like blogging usage as opposed to social networking (ex Facebook) usage.
A few years ago, it was believed that eventually everyone will have a blog. But it's becoming clear that blogging (at least consistent blogging) will always be done by a small minority of internet users. Those who are motivated enough to spread their ideas to their specific audience.
As decentralized and open as the possibilities are ("anyone can start a blog! Anyone can leave a comment on my post!"), blog usage is mostly one-to-many communication. It is still top-down broadcasting. I wouldn't be surprised if the median number of blog posts is also one. There are a lot of "hello world" blog posts out there that are now abandoned...
Social networking on the other hand showed that practically everyone will get involved and stay involved. Both in reading and producing content. It is two-way communication. Peer-to-peer and many-to-many. The barriers to participate are so low that practically anyone that has an account participates at some level.
Twitter's recent explosion makes it look more like a social network. But will the masses eventually use it like a social network and do true two-way communication? Or will the median number of tweets always be one?
A few other data points to consider:
Only 22% of 18-26 year olds currently use Twitter
60% of new Twitter users don't come back
80% of Twitter accounts have less than 10 followers.
52% have ZERO followers
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