Twitter Users Are Older and More Educated Than Facebook Users

Comments 24 December 2008

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The other day, I had shared the Quantcast demographic data for Gauravonomics.

Today, I decided to do a small study on the demographics differences between Twitter and Facebook users using Quantcast data.

According to Quantcast data on Facebook users: 55% are likely to be female, 32% are younger than 17 and only 21% are older than 35, 61% earn more than $60,000 and 57% have a college degree.

According to Quantcast data on Twitter users: 54% are likely to be female, only 1% are younger than 17 and 52% are older than 35, 51% earn more than $60,000 and 63% have a college degree.

So, Twitter users are older and more educated but earn less than Facebook users. It may seem like a contradiction but isn’t one. Given that 32% of Facebook users are younger than 17, their higher household income is probably a reflection of their parents’ income and not theirs.

Also, the top 1% of Twitter addicts contribute to 34% of Twitter’s traffic, compared to 11% of Facebook account for 62% of Facebook’s traffic.

Finally, Facebook users are more interested in topics related to teens, bridal, fashion/ cosmetics, baby, education and parenting whereas Twitter users are more interested in topics related to politics, science, technology and news.

I’m not sure how reliable Quantcast’s data is, but it sure enables you to look at website traffic in interesting ways.

Author

Gaurav Mishra

Gaurav Mishra - who has written 725 posts on Gauravonomics Blog on Social Media and Social Change.

As CEO of 2020 Social, I build and nurture online communities for Indian and international clients, connect their customers, partners and employees, and help them achieve their business objectives. Ask us how we can help you.

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Arby K

Makes sense. Orkut and facebook are more abt conforming to reference group, a need to stay in touch. Novelty wears off after a while. Twitter, like blogs, are more about discussion and communication. U need to be involved to be part of twitterverse.

Kiran

Maybe kids have a lot of difficulty in finishing off their thoughts in 140 characters. Just maybe!

Judy Rey Wasserman

I actively participate on both Facebook and Twitter. On the whole I think that the findings are correct.

Since it is known that I follow all my followers, I am meeting many new and interesting people through Twitter. Most seem to fit the demographic mentioned.

However, Facebook offers groups and within them one can find different demographics for older, more educated people. I can find people who are more interested in art, inspiration, self motivation and transformation, and whatever else interests me.

It also seems that many of the people who I follow and who follow me are also using both sites. Most of these new friends are not teenagers.

Thnaks for the good information!

Judy Rey Wasserman
On Twitter follow me, judyrey at http://twitter.com/judyrey

Gaurav Mishra

@Judy: You are right. Many Twitter users are using Facebook. However, the converse is not true and few of the younger Facebook users use Twitter.