Young adults largely ignore Twitter | marketing infowrangler

Just about everyone 18 to 24 has a profile on a social networking site like Facebook and MySpace.

However, the younger demographic is far less enthusiastic about Twitter, with only 22 percent saying they use the micro-blogging service.

These findings come from a survey published by Participatory Marketing Network and Pace University. The results are based on responses from 200 people 18 to 24 and show that Twitter has a long way to go to attract younger users.

Generation Y, the age group between 18 and 24, embrace social networking – 99% maintain a profile, according to the survey.

The survey failed to address the reasons behind the disparity.

Twitter offers a stripped-down messaging service. Google CEO Eric Schmidt called it a “poor man’s e-mail” that limits posts to 140 characters. Tweets are public – they are visible to anyone.

Twitter has taken on a more commercial tone where individuals and even some companies promote themselves and post links to articles.

Facebook, conversely, limits messages to friends, creating a more private function. It also offers more uses than Twitter, like sharing photos and playing games, things more appealing to Generation Y.

Michael Della Penna, co-founder of Participatory Marketing Network speculated about Twitter’s lower rate of adoption:

“Could it be that between texting and social networking, there is little need?” Could it be that social networks are more interesting and engaging given the array of applications now in use. Maybe, but one thing is for certain: If Twitter is to have any real staying power, then Gen Y needs to be convinced of its advantages over texting leading social networks.”

(Thanks to SF.gate.com for this news.)