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The Pew Internet for the American Life Project is out today with a new study (PDF) that reveals that 11% of Americans share or read status updates via a micro-blogging social network service such as Twitter, Facebook or Yammer.
However, the brief is somewhat misleading since it seems to hook the story primarily to Twitter, when in fact it can cover lots of sites. I suspect Facebook looms larger here in the survey than Pew lets on. In addition, I would advise reading it closely since the data can be misinterpreted.
In December 2008 Pew asked more than 2700 consumers if they used "Twitter or another 'microblogging' service to share updates about themselves or to see updates about others." According to Pew, 11% responded yes, which is up from 9% in November 2008 and 6% in May of last year. However, read the question closely. Not all of these people are necessarily posting and if they are it can be anywhere, not just Twitter.
Other nuggets from the study...
Regardless of the specific watering hole (eg Facebook, Twitter, etc.) I am less impressed with the 11% figure. What I do find more notable is the growth rate. An increase of two percent from a base of nine percent in just a month is quite impressive. But keep in mind, not everyone maybe posting and the base is wide.
NYC Times Square - Motron by Wallyg
One of my favorite sights in New York City is the Dow Jones news ticker in Times Square. It's known as the zipper and is over 80 years old. Edelman's primary New York office is across the street so whenever I am on on the way or out of the building I get a quick update on what's happening.
Using Gmail's Web Clips feature you can re-create the same experience on your computer. Since I use Gmail as a database and notetaking tool (a substitute for apps like Evernote, Yojimbo or Devonthink), I always have it running in a tab. Whenever it's active, Web Clips keeps me in the know and helps me manage the Attention Crash.
The trick to Web Clips however is to think about how you consume information and configure it with RSS feeds that are really useful. Here are five that can help you track news and memes...
The rest of my feeds are in Google Reader. When all is said and done here's what it looks like. What's in your Web Clips? How do you keep up with the news and memes?
This isn't your father's White House. The Obama administration's communication team - as I write this post - is live-blogging a speech the President is giving in Florida today on the economy.
This is a big deal. The new administration, unsurprisingly given its history, is slowly opening up the White House to the new world of media. It's not that they don't get it. They do. It's just hard to turn around a giant institution like the government. But slowly, it's happening. Posting the weekly addresses and more on YouTube, inviting The Huffington Post to ask a press conference question (a first, which Obama did last night) and now live-blogging are all baby steps in the right direction.
I wonder if the White House will revive Obama's old Twitter account next.
Young Urban Professional