Is Twitter a giant hoax?
Let me start by saying I'm a big fan of Twitter, I use it every day. But something seems really fishy about the service. 44% of twitter accounts have never tweeted once. That's a very large percentage of their user base. I'm sure that some of those accounts are people that like to read others tweets, but almost half of the user-base sounds like an artificial inflation of a publicly traded stock.
6 comments
Twitter is not a hoax. However, twitter is often exploited by governments / ngos / companies to create astroturf
Just an example that comes to mind
http://techland.time.com/2011/08/03/report-92-of-newt-gingri...
The total number of accounts is probably meaningless. Instead, look at monthly and daily activity.
In 2011, they had 100 million monthly active accounts and 50% logged in daily.
http://mashable.com/2011/10/17/twitter-costolo-stats/
In 2011, they had 100 million monthly active accounts and 50% logged in daily.
http://mashable.com/2011/10/17/twitter-costolo-stats/
I'm sure plenty of people, like me, signed up to see what the fuss was about, found it wasn't to my taste / usefulness and now hardly ever visit. However occasionally I end up logging when someone posts a link or someone on TV solicits some engagement - Eurosport, for instance, invite comment during live broadcast - I've had a couple of questions read out on air.
So, even though I have done those things I wouldn't describe myself as a Twitter "user".
So, even though I have done those things I wouldn't describe myself as a Twitter "user".
Maybe you're over-estimating people's desire to draw attention to themselves?
I can assure you as a former employee it is not a hoax.