Teens really don't use Twitter

When Morgan Stanley Research issued a research note last month asserting "teenagers do not use Twitter", it received widespread attention.

"Most have signed up to the service but then just leave it when they realise they are not going to update it (mostly because texting Twitter uses up credit and they would rather text friends with that credit)," said the report.

"In addition, they realise that no one is viewing their profile, so their 'tweets' are pointless."

The report was condemned as baseless, as the paper was nothing more than the opinion of a 15-year-old intern, Matthew Robson (something Morgan Stanley revealed upfront).

However, it appears Robson has a sound appreciation of the online habits of his peers, after respected media researcher Nielsen ran his assertion past its panel of 250,000 American internet users.

According to Nielsen, only 16 per cent of Twitter users are under 25 (under-25s make up nearly a quarter of active internet users in the US).

Whether youngsters have an aversion to the "tell the world" aspect of Twitter or whether it is because they typically don't have access to a mobile internet device is up for discussion.

- © Fairfax NZ News