Since Twitter's emergence on the internet scene in 2006, it has been a powerful player in social media. Hootsuite estimates there are over 330 million monthly active users on the site, a number that has increased by 4 percent over the last year.
While many of these users are spread across the globe, experts believe that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 actively use Twitter. Because Millennials and Generation Z make up such a large chunk of the user base, they often define how the site works. Here's a look at how they're currently using the platform and how you can leverage these trends for your own purposes.
Building Influence
The rise of influencer marketing is real, and many users are flocking to Twitter to build their reputation. Twitter offers a unique ability to connect with personalities and celebrities that other social media platforms don't. Whereas places like Facebook are reserved for personal relationships, on Twitter, you can connect with anyone you find interesting.
Once members of this generation build up a following, they are using their accounts to promote fashion products, websites, and more. It's often a win-win situation for these users, as they both receive compensation for the promotion and broaden their social network.
Accessing Information
More and more Millennial and Gen Z users are turning to social media as a source of news. According to a 2017 survey, 33 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 get their news from social media. For people 25-34, the number falls to a still-impressive 21 percent. When including all age groups, about 74 percent of social media users said they got their news from Twitter in 2017.
The kind of news that Twitter users obtain via the platform varies, from the latest sports scores and breaking celebrity updates to the latest financial news Basically, any topic that's trending or noteworthy will pop up in their feed, providing information about what's going on in the world around them.
Finding Fun
Twitter is not all about staying up-to-date with information and trends. For many users, it's simply about sharing memes, laughing at jokes, and curing boredom. Users can easily find something entertaining on Twitter by simply searching hashtags or following their favorite comedians. This form of fun is called micro-leisure and lets users get bursts of fun while they're commuting on the subway, using the bathroom, or waiting in line.
Becoming Involved
Members of Generation Z and Millennials often have the fear of missing out, and to combat this, they'll do everything they can to involve themselves in specific events. One such method of doing this is by using hashtags to inform others of their involvement in a certain situation.
For example, many users will tweet out pictures or videos of a live concert or parade, then use the corresponding event hashtag. This way, other users can type in that hashtag and see the user's photos. It's also a great way for people getting married to see all of the photos from their wedding. Many brides and grooms use a pre-determined mash-up of their last names to create a unique hashtag for their big day.
Tweeting
It seems strange to specify that users of Twitter are using it to tweet, but many of the site's users do not. Estimates show that there are
974 million total users of Twitter , meaning that about 640 million are inactive. These younger generations, however, are not part of the problem. They tweet like crazy, updating followers on every aspect of their days.
Twitter estimates that the site sees about 500 million tweets per day, meaning that there's a lot of action. There are no exact numbers on how many of these tweets come from Generation Z or Millennial users, but it's sure to be quite a lot.
Sharing Their Voice
The 2010s have seen many movements taking place, including #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and numerous LGBT movements. Twitter has allowed many previously silent members of Generation Z and Millennials to share their stories and support for these social causes. Instead of sitting back in silence, users are sharing their stories via tweets to help promote the cause.
Whether it's retweeting an advocate who made an important point, retelling a personal story that will speak to others, or even insulting a person who made an insensitive comment, Twitter allows these users to express their opinions in a way that other social networks can't.
These are just a few of the many ways in which
Millennials and Generation Z are using the Twitter platform. While Twitter has seen a drop off in popularity over the last few years, experts believe that these generations will be the ones to keep it afloat. Their mass consumption of information and craving for instantaneous interaction make Twitter an ideal social media platform to satisfy their needs.