Twitter vs Facebook

In a market where being on the correct and relevant Social Network (SN sites) is the difference in your social standing gaining points, Social Networks have become very important to the youth market. More than just platforms for them to share their photo's and their lives, SN sites have become event planners, diaries, photo albumns, and a way for youth to engage each other.

With internet accessibility (70%) and social networking ability (63%), the top 2 influencers when purchasing a mobile phone, SN sites are winning the battle for the youths attention in South Africa.As a brand custodian or a curious mind within the youth market space; in a world where marketing budgets are under more and more scrutiny; being on the correct social networks has become very important to the youth communication process.

The 2 leading social networks in the world based on usage? Facebook with over 400 million active users, and Twitter with 500 million tweets daily. Now that is some serious online usage.Now thinking locally, the battle between these 2 social networking giants is a lot more distinct. In the youth market space Facebook is king of the hill.

Facebook ranked number 1 in activities youth engaging in via their phone with a staggering 59% of the research sample spending most of their time on Facebook, and a further 20% occasionally spending time of their time on Facebook, which amounts to a total 79% usage.

Twitter? a lowly 20% spent most of their time on Twitter and a further 12% occasionally.You must be asking why such a huge disparity? well focus group research revealed that Twitter as a Social Networking platform is still in it's infancy stage in the youth market. Focus group students revealed that Twitter is on the rise, but currently the view is that Twitter is mainly to follow celebrities, and not an interaction tool...yet.

The Cool kids on campuses are beginning to get used to it, and with more and more platforms opening themselves up to Twitter, who knows what the landscape will look like in 2 years time.So to close the battle, local youths are very much in Facebook's corner at the moment. Twitter is still in the fight, with a some ground to cover still.

However beware of the other social networking platform, MXit. They still have a big stake in the market.

Sources:

http://www.graphicsms.com/blog/877-social-networking-statistics-2010
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/01/facebook-vs-twitter-a-graphic-breakdown-of-2010-social-demographics.html