Twitter Personality Types

a) Are short on time – busy folks with too much to do in too little time.
b) Still want to interact with other humans but not too much.
c) Enjoy sharing information and data.
d) Enjoy getting information and data from others.
e) Are direct and to the point (some might say blunt).

Facebook Personality Types

a) Are relaxed types with time on their hands – even if it’s just perceived time.
b) Enjoy sharing everything about themselves with anyone who will listen (or read).
c) Love sharing information and data and all the details that come with it.
d) Feel a strong need to be with other humans at all times.
e) Love to talk just for the sake of talking.

Well, what do you think?  Are these correct?  Do you fit into one of these types?

But the point I want to make in this article is that she’s 83 years old!!  (So, for my clients who say that they’re too old to use social media – I say HA!)

Anyway, I was reading Mashable this morning and I came across an article talking about that very same concept.  My neighbor’s mother and Facebook isn’t a singular story, it seems it’s happening over and over again.  iStrategyLabs did a study on the demographics of Facebook users and this is what they found…

Between January 2009 and July 2009…

the number of users between 18 and 24 grew 4.8%;
the number of users aged 25 – 34 grew 60.8%;
the number of users aged 35 to 54 grew 190.2%;
the number of users aged 55+ grew 513.7%

You can see the chart and read an article on Mashable for more information about iStrategyLabs’ data.

So, what does this tell me?  Well, a few things…

1) if I want to reach the demographics of 35+ I need to advertise and be present in Facebook.

2) it tells me that the features Facebook has are attractive to this demographic, so what are those features and how can I integrate them into my own website?

3) it tells me that this demographic is not as “afraid” of computers and the Internet as was once thought (or once were).  Which also tells me that Internet usage (and sales) should be increasing within this demographic in the next few years.

So, if you receive a “let’s be friends” invitation from your elderly uncle in Facebook, don’t be surprised!

“…I don’t want my kids using all that stuff, it isolates them.”

What?

With what’s been happening in Iran lately with the Internet Revolution – I don’t see how anyone can say that the Internet isolates anyone!  We now have the opportunity to not just know the people in our neighborhoods but to get to know people from other parts of the country and the world.  When, in history, has this ever been possible?  In my humble opinion, when people say they think the Internet isolates people, what they’re really saying is that they don’t understand it and they’re scared of it.  If they’re scared of it they can’t control it.  I don’t know anyone who uses social media and thinks it’s isolating.  If anything, it’s liberating.

But, with the liberation comes responsibilities.  You can’t just say what you want, we all still have moral responsibilities to express ourselves thoughtfully.  Being angry and mean is the same whether you say it in person or online.

And, parents have the added responsibility of teaching their children how to behave and what to watch out for on the Internet.  It used to be you could just tell your children to “…look both ways before crossing the street” and “…don’t talk to strangers.”  Those days are over.  The list of things to watch out for is long for children these days and I for one, applaud those parents who take on this responsibility to teach their children how to interact in today’s world.

But, back to the social media and Internet.   The recent events in Iran showcase to everyone the absolute power the Internet and social media can have on a worldwide basis.  Imagine if the people in Darfur had access to this?  Would they still be suffering as they are?  I doubt it.

If you’re still in the back of the room wondering if you should join a social media group and begin interacting on the Internet, stop scratching your head and just do it.  Begin with something you enjoy, like a hobby or something and you’ll soon find out how easy and how fruitful it can be to join these groups.  It doesn’t matter how you start.  Whether you start with Twitter or Facebook or Linked In or any of the many, many social media groups.  The point is to start using it.