Twitterers Getting Younger

Twitter usage is increasing among teenagers and young adults, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The survey found that 37 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds now use the microblogging Web site, compared with just 19 percent in December 2008. Still, the median age of a Twitter user is 31, a figure that has remained stable over the past year, the survey found.

And while Twitter is getting younger, the survey found that Facebook is graying a bit: the median age for Facebook users is now 33, up from 26 in May 2008.

Earlier this year, Allan Holmes reported on the lack of acceptance of Twitter among the younger population and what that could mean for federal agencies, which are creating Twitter feeds in part to appeal to the younger workforce. But as younger workers increasingly see value in Twitter, and older workers increasingly see value in Facebook and other Web 2.0 technologies, this could be key to ushering in new ways of working and changing the culture at federal agencies.