Twitter Study: Just .05% Generate 50% Of Action

A new Yahoo Research study confirms that Twitter is more of a hierarchical broadcast network than a social network. A striking concentration of attention on Twitter – roughly 50% of tweets consumed – are generated by just 20K elite users. Media produces the most information, but celebrities are the most followed. The study also found a significant homophily within groups:

Celebrities listen to celebrities, bloggers listen to bloggers etc. However, bloggers in general rebroadcast more information than the other categories.

The study “Who Says What to Whom on Twitter”, also proved what it calls a two-step flow of information. Almost half the information that originates from the media passes to the masses indirectly via an intermediate layer of opinion leaders that are more connected and exposed to media than their followers. That's certainly what we try to do with @hypebot on Twitter, and is mirrored in the influence of music tastemakers and uber-fans.

Download a pdf of the Yahoo study “Who Says What to Whom on Twitter.”