According to an eMarketer report published yesterday, between Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace users, Facebook users are most likely to return to the site with an increasing frequency over time. The numbers are representative of Facebook’s ability to pull users into the site and also paint a bleak picture of MySpace where most users are either using the site the same amount or less than six months ago.
While the numbers are not exactly surprising, it emphasizes the power of the network effect, under which the more people that join Facebook, the more sticky the site becomes. Users also tend to use the platform increasingly. Twitter on the other hand, is relatively sticky as users are returning to the site at least the same amount as they were 6 months ago, however it’s not currently as sticky as Facebook.
The information may be skewed however as Twitter has a “nine month bounce“. Statistics suggest that users fall of the site for a period of nine months, however they become an active user as the site grows on them over a period of nine months, at which point they become fully engaged.
Essentially the report doesn’t reveal any surprising data, but it’s yet again more positive data to support the fact that Facebook is continuously growing thanks to the site’s ability to retain users.
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I am spending less time on Facebook these days, WAY less time on MySpace, yet am finding more time for Twitter, ShoutLife, Kuzoa, and TuDiabetes. The simple, non-invasive approach works best for me.
Comment by Michael Stone — April 6, 2010 @ 5:39 am
as an avid user of both fb and twitter, i think i might be part of a new trend that doesn't bode well for twitter. i've begun using the service less in terms of posting. i still read my feed for updates and information, but posting via twitter is becoming a pain.
there are a number of reasons (in no particular order):
1) twitter doesn't always update facebook: the only reason i update twitter as much is because it then automagically updates fb. except often enough, it fails. i don't know which site is the cause of this.
2) some updates look better on fb if done directly. i no longer use twitpic for photos and i have foursquare directly update fb (not twitter then letting twitter pass the update to fb). the foursquare direct update has better formatting and having the pic show up directly in fb instead of just a link to twitpic is better.
both of the above examples only work because i have far more many friends on fb than followers on twitter (255 vs 86 – and many of those followers are strangers, none of my "friends" on fb are).
so it's simple for to not worry about the fact that some folks who aren't both following and friends, won't get certain updates (4square and pics).
3) the social aspect of fb is much stronger. conversations are much easier to have and follow. twitter is more of a one-to-many broadcast for the most part. fb does both that and facilitates conversations, both in groups and between individuals. the commenting function is a major driver of this of course.
for these reasons im using twitter less as a social networking site and more of a news/information site – almost like ap wire or something.
i find that im mostly interested in the tweets from cnn and other folks i follow who i don't personally know but who move in circles i don't (filmmakers, musicians, policy wonks, etc.). i don't have conversations with these people for the most part.
and i don't want news updates from cnn in my fb feed. i do get news via friends, but those are topical items that have relevance to them and possibly by proxy to me. im not a fan of many things on fb and of those that i am, i often find myself hiding their updates.
does any of this sound like something others are also doing?
Comment by christopher — April 6, 2010 @ 9:16 am
oh, and i deleted my myspace profile a year ago. can't wait for that site to fold.
Comment by christopher — April 6, 2010 @ 11:00 am