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Of 1.2 Billion Twitter Posts, 71% Are Ignored

Posted by timothy on from the stunning-underestimate dept.

destinyland writes "1.2 billion Twitter 'tweets' were analyzed over two months by analytics company Sysomos, who concluded that a whopping 71% of them got no reaction whatsoever — no online responses, and no Twitter 'retweets.' 'Only a small number of users actually have the ability to engage on Twitter in a significant way,' the researchers conclude, noting that just 6% of Twitter's status updates ever get retweeted (while 23% get a reply). And among those status updates, 85% have exactly one response, while only 1.53% of Twitter conversations are more than three levels deep — where a reply receives a response which then generates a second reply." I am astounded by the claim that nearly three out of ten tweets actually do get any response.

18 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. aww... by metalmaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess all the "i showered" "I dressed" "I got in the car" "I drove to work/school" ect... tales of peoples' day just arent *that* exciting

    1. Re:aww... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

      just because something didn't get an answer, doesn't mean it was "ignored"..

      So, then tweets are like prayers?:

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      My blog
    2. Re:aww... by RulerOf · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, then tweets are like prayers?

      Not in the least. We will play Duke Nukem Forever.

      --
      Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
    3. Re:aww... by somersault · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not exactly. The tweets at least have a chance of getting read..

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      which is totally what she said
    4. Re:aww... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Social marketers" buy twitter accounts in bulk - ten cents apiece.

      Really? They could have mine for a nickel.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:aww... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      RT @Culture20 good point #ack

    6. Re:aww... by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't do twitter, but I thought the purpose of it was to actually READ the twits, rather than having to respond or forward them? If they're read then they have served their purpose and were not ignored.

      At some point, a conversation has to end. "meet me at the library", "ok, see you there", "ok, got your reply see you there too", "I already said that", "acknowledged", "shut up already", "shutting up now", "nm", "here's a pic of my cat"

  2. Character limit by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 5, Funny

    The problem is that it's very difficult to fit what you want to say into 140 characters. Unless you're into text speak, you may find that y

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    Summation 2
    1. Re:Character limit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      RT @rik: The problem is that it's very difficult to fit what you want to say into 140 characters. Unless you're into text speak, you may fi

  3. Have to say... by the_one_wesp · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd be more than a tad disturbed if I found one of my friends re-tweeting: "Dude, I just took the largest dump in history!"

    Since when has twitter ever been primarily about being relevant? It's always been about being real-ish, and for most people, reality is not retweet or reply worthy.

  4. Simple, just use perfect compression recursively! by thijsh · · Score: 3, Funny

    1

    (Which is what you inevitably end up with after applying perfect compression that removes at least one bit with each pass).

    It can furthermore be stated that for Tweets this achieves near lossless compression.

  5. Re:They don't seem to understand the purpose by value_added · · Score: 4, Funny

    Back in the dinosaur age if something happened to you(passed a test got herpes whatever) you would actually have to phone/write several people saying the exact same thing. You weren't always looking for a response but just wanted to share the news. Thats what twitter is for.

    No wonder I can't figure this twitter thing out. I'm out of school and don't have herpes.

  6. Re:Not the point by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why would you talk without intending a response?

    I've been meaning to ask my mother-in-law that very question for years now.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  7. People on Twitter have no life at all by Golbez81 · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm proud to report I am still Twitter free. It's the most popular yet absolutely useless website ever. Post here if you are Twitter free and intend to remain that way. This thread is for you!

  8. Re:Not surprised by MrMarket · · Score: 5, Funny

    Agreed. On /., a response increases the probability that the story was *not* read.

  9. Sounds like... by binaryseraph · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot.

  10. Re:Not the point by Custard+Horse · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's a great way of keeping up with friends who you don't see very often due to being in geographical locations. A friend of mine just tweeted that he is going to LA for a week (he lives in the UK). I will know not to drop by his house whilst he is away. It didn't demand a response but it helps me know what is going on.

    Of course, grammar leaves a lot to be desired such as the tweet "At doctor who live at wembley" by the same friend who lives close by. I assumed he was at a doctors surgery and wondered what was wrong. Turns out he was at 'Dr. Who - Live at Wembley'. The vaguaries of the English language...

  11. Re:Seems low by alex_guy_CA · · Score: 2, Funny

    Same here. I ignore 100% of twitter posts.

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    San Francisco Photographers