According to a study last year by Pew Internet and American Life Project, the number of teens using the mircroblogging site Twitter had doubled over the past two years. Since 2009 the number of teens using Twitter has doubled from 8% to 16%, raising awareness as to why teenagers are making the journey from Facebook to Twitter.
"That doubling is definitely a significant increase," Mary Madden, a senior research specialist at Pew told Associated Press.
Despite the limited amount of 140 characters, teens are increasingly coming to Twitter to post photos, links and thoughts. The number of online teens using Twitter has now passed the number of online adults using the site, with teens leading the way by 4%.
The amount of teens using social networking sites has jumped 25% in the past five years with 80% of teens currently using social media sites. Teenagers have become the second largest age group to use social networking sites. The largest age group is currently online users age 18-29 years, with 87% using social sites followed by online adults with 64%.
Many teens, however, are not abandoning their Facebook accounts but seem to be using Twitter as an alternative, whether it is for privacy, avoiding parents, or an easier platform to voice their opinions.
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"Facebook is like shouting into a crowd. Twitter is like speaking into a room" said one teen to Pew.
Some teens may also prefer Twitter if they want to express themselves without everyone they know seeing it. The ability of creating an anonymous profile account on Twitter appeals to some teenagers.
"I love twitter, it’s the only thing I have to myself … cause my parents don’t have one," a 17 year old tweeted.
80% of parents have friended their child on Facebook which is a factor some kids think about before posting photos, statuses, or comments. 77% of parents admitted to monitoring their children on social sites which has jumped from 65% in 2006 according to the study.
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