4 ms·

The most surprising thing to me is the split in age distribution among user base vs. overall tweeting vs. political tweeting. Users 18-49 were 73% of the user b

The most surprising thing to me is the split in age distribution among user base vs. overall tweeting vs. political tweeting. Users 18-49 were 73% of the user base and produced 72% of tweets, but only 27% of political tweets. Users 50+ were only 26% of the user base and produced only 28% of tweets, but 73% of political tweets.

jariel 7y ago
Both the headline fact, and your addendum are interesting, but to me not fully surprising. I found the most surprising tidbit to be: "Tweets from users who strongly disapprove of Trump are especially prominent: This group generates 80% of all tweets from U.S. adults and 72% of tweets mentioning national politics." I didn't realise how one-sided Twitter was, but then, maybe that 'makes sense' in hindsight as well.
blfr 7y ago
I'm pretty sure this is not true. They probably just haven't captured the way younger people speak about politics because it's largely in culture wars terms, not mentions of national politicians, institutions or groups, as well as civic behaviors such as voting.
thaumasiotes 7y ago
> Users 18-49 were 73% of the user base and produced 72% of tweets, but only 27% of political tweets. > Users 50+ were only 26% of the user base and produced only 28% of tweets, but 73% of political tweets. By these numbers, users 15-17 are <1% of the user base and produce 0% of political tweets. (And even more dramatically, despite being more than 0% of users, they also produce 0% of tweets.) Even after allowing for rounding, this can't possibly be correct.
- 0xcde4c3db 7y ago
  I calculated the percentages for two groups from a chart of four groups, so maybe there's more possible rounding error than you anticipated? The user base numbers in that chart do only add up to 99%, though.
  - thaumasiotes 7y ago
    Looking at the graphic in the article, it looks like their denominator is "all tweets from US adults". In other words, users 15-17 make 0% of "tweets" by definition. But of course, they are well over 0% of tweets in the ordinary sense. I see no particular reason why tweets from 18-year-olds are especially more interesting than tweets from 17-year-olds.

jariel 7y ago

Both the headline fact, and your addendum are interesting, but to me not fully surprising. I found the most surprising tidbit to be: "Tweets from users who strongly disapprove of Trump are especially prominent: This group generates 80% of all tweets from U.S. adults and 72% of tweets mentioning national politics." I didn't realise how one-sided Twitter was, but then, maybe that 'makes sense' in hindsight as well.

blfr 7y ago

I'm pretty sure this is not true. They probably just haven't captured the way younger people speak about politics because it's largely in culture wars terms, not mentions of national politicians, institutions or groups, as well as civic behaviors such as voting.

thaumasiotes 7y ago

> Users 18-49 were 73% of the user base and produced 72% of tweets, but only 27% of political tweets. > Users 50+ were only 26% of the user base and produced only 28% of tweets, but 73% of political tweets. By these numbers, users 15-17 are <1% of the user base and produce 0% of political tweets. (And even more dramatically, despite being more than 0% of users, they also produce 0% of tweets.) Even after allowing for rounding, this can't possibly be correct.

0xcde4c3db 7y ago
I calculated the percentages for two groups from a chart of four groups, so maybe there's more possible rounding error than you anticipated? The user base numbers in that chart do only add up to 99%, though.
- thaumasiotes 7y ago
  Looking at the graphic in the article, it looks like their denominator is "all tweets from US adults". In other words, users 15-17 make 0% of "tweets" by definition. But of course, they are well over 0% of tweets in the ordinary sense. I see no particular reason why tweets from 18-year-olds are especially more interesting than tweets from 17-year-olds.