Nielsen on Twitter: It's so five seconds ago

Is Twitter over? (16 characters).

Probably not. Yet some new research from Nielsen isn't encouraging for the red-hot social networking site's future in which users post 140-character updates on ... well, anything.

The buzz is short-lived, Nielsen says. While Twitter's unique users more than doubled in March, on average 60% don't come back after a month of tweeting. MySpace and Facebook had retention rates that were twice as high at similar times in their existence.

For this tweeter (or twit since tweeter is just a little too close to tweaker for comfort), the site is awash in self-promotion. Journalists tout their most recent clips and, for some bizarre reason, their whereabouts (it's a great tip sheet for burglars, stalkers, not to mention competitors), while networks and studios promote their wares.

Is it effective? In generating ink and a lot of back-and-forth navel gazing the answer is yes. In tangible results, not so much.

Take NBC's "Chuck," which is on the bubble for a third season. Obsessed fans and a few publicists and TV reporters filled Twitter with tweets in an effort to raise the ratings for Monday's season finale. It didn't help, though, as "Chuck's" ratings were flat, leading one obsessed cheerleader to rationalize in a tweet that flat is the new up.

Of course, that's a rationalization the entire media industry is using these days and at some point so will Twitter.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: NBC

Comments

[Rocco]

It's Stupid. If you care about it, getting a life might be the antidote for you.

[Andrew]

As I tweeted to the NYT... this should be verified againstTwitter's own numbers of registration and attrition and inactive accounts - Nielsen's sampling panel is bogus.

Second, this obviously doesn't count the usage of Twitter through its API and 3rd party clients/widgets/mobile http://twitstat.com/twitterclientusers.html

I know this is a blog, but at least do some research and analysis instead of regurgitating a Nielsen press release.

[Polomoche]

thank you and amen. I think the pithy one sentence update will remain a medium of communication in some form or another, like texting, but the twitter hype is just that: hype. Do I really care what someone is doing every moment of their day? Do I need an hourly update on the things that interest me? For the love of god, NO!!!!!!!

[Rocco]

Once in a while, Nielson gets it right. Twitter is dumb.

[gajo]

It's just one drop in the tsunami of "social Media" that is currently topping the charts. whether it lasts or not is irrelevant. The shelf life no longer makes any diffference, the rules have changed.

[David Phillips]

Excellent hack job by the old media against the new and user-driven content.

[line]

is it ironic that everybody reading this now got the link through a twitter feed??

[Jason Trenton]

shamless self promtion? ask Heidi & Spencer
Tweeker Tweeters? Demi & Ashton
Tweeter may be a fad & addicting like crack
But it's fun
Ask Perez who got Miley & Heidi Montag to
Tweet in support of Gay Marriage
Now that's a accomplishment
But the Hannah Montana & Blonde Christian Famewhore
Were seeking their 15 mins of Tweet-Fame
& the ones that don't come back probably
Are the ones who don't know how to cook Top Ramen in a microwave
Follow Perez at Http://twitter.com/PetezHilton
& Genius film maker Michal Mouris at Http://twitter.com/Crazybabyz
And if you want your phone to blow up
Follow Courtney Love if you dare
Shameless Self Promotion is the new black
Oh wait that would be Swine Flu!

[wannabe]

I think Twitter is here to stay but it just got a lot of attention because of the Ashton and Larry King publicity. My sister went to South America an I followed her on twitter.. She put up where and what she was doing and I found it interesting. To follow someone while they are traveling as opposed to finding out if one is brushing his teeth or going to the grocery store!

[Janet D.]

Honestly I think the lull in Twitter is the reluctance to manage another social network coupled with the absense of a people search...why tweet when there is nobody listening? Unless you and your friends have a roundtable discussion about urls (which seems to be a deadly sin of online life) nobody knows how to find anybody. Twitter is still young...the media has just taken off with it. It does remind me of the glory years of myspace when people were still asking what it was, and only a few knew why it was relevant. I think that twitter hasn't seen it's heyday yet and it is definitely way too early to be singing it's swan song!

[Samantha Vigliotti]

I just recently got Twitter and there are definite advantages over Facebook and Myspace. The main thing is that I only get updates from people I follow, and that I don't have to follow everyone following me like you do if you make friends on Facebok or MySpace. Both sites are overwhelming so I like that I only watch 12 people on Twitter and I plan to keep it that way. I'm not looking for another facebook. Also I love that my favorite band is on there and I know that Ryan Ross having a twitter has increased PATD's presence online. He's an inspirational lyricist so of course I want to see what he has to say! To sum up, I think this article is wrong. I know a bunch of people who just got twitter and I think it's about to blow up. IT's actually a shame. I like networking sites better when they aren't very popular.

[DJ Doug]

Most of us who use it are avoiding the social media freaks and folks like you. You have no flippin clue what you are talking about. Did it occur to you that we remove and block people? We can change our twitter identities, close accts, open multiple ones or a series of them. We are not on twitter to watch tv shows or movies or buy things. I am on twitter because I can easily follow and chat w/ my dj colleagues, chat music, chat family & friends...and make new friends. Do you understand what's going on a little better now?

[Caitlin]

I think it's funny that I read this article then scroll down and see a big fat "follow us on twitter" link. Love it or hate it, everyone's jumping on the band wagon.

[Marianne]

funny that you herald the end of twitter while the publication you work for has a big banner on the right with your twitter feed: @latcompanytown. Look at zappos - their success has been attributed to twitter by many different sources. other brands have experienced the same. do your research.

[Morgan Kochel]

The only way Twitter is ever going to go out of style is if something better comes along that does nearly the same thing. To judge it's popularity, you need to take into account the overall growth over an extended period of time. Even if 60% leave within a month, if more stay from month to month than leave, it's still growing.

I predict it's going to get WAY bigger than it is now. Time will tell....

[Adrianna Marchelle]

i find it a bit amusing that after i read this 'article' i am then offered a link to follow the times on twitter. welcome to the tech age people-population: us!

[Joe Flint]

Dear Twitterers both pro and con.

Glad for all the notes, even the attacks. Of course idea of Twitter being already over is bit absurd. Just being sarcastic. Keep it coming.

Joe Flint
Company Town