Are Twitter ages an important factor in what we tweet? While playing with my granddaughter several years ago back in 2015, I posed this very question. It made me curious to explore the different types of content being shared between generations on social media platforms such as Twitter and how that may be affected by Twitter age restrictions for youngsters.
My curiosity about Twitter ages led me down a path full of new discoveries for you that I’ve updated here in 2023.
Twitter Ages: The Youngest and Oldest on Twitter
It was difficult to find out who is the youngest person on Twitter but I came across this interesting piece years ago about tweeting from the womb. Now that is an early start.
Many of you may remember the oldest person. She was 104 and on both Twitter and Facebook. Her name was Ivy Bean. She was an inspiration to many who thought they were too old to be on social media.
What Is The Average Age Demographic On Twitter?
35-44 is the average age of a person on Twitter today but that average age is rising. And Twitter has a more male demographic than female according to Business of Apps on Twitter.
The younger audience is leaning towards Instagram and TikTok these days with short-form videos vs. Twitter. (Maybe Twitter will find a way to compete in that arena.)
It is important to know how to target your tweet to different age groups and to know what they tweet about.
What Is The Twitter Age Restriction?
Twitter has an age restriction of 13 years or older to register on their social media platform. However, it is not enforced by birth certificates. If you signed up before the age of 13 your account may be suspended. Once you reach 13 Twitter may reinstate your account.
However, with that in mind, there have been some youngsters on Twitter over the years. (Of course, some children may have been signed up by their parents, etc.)
There is a Twitter account called @HonestToddler and they tweet from the mind of a toddler. It’s a funny and quirky Twitter handle. As you can see below you can get creative with your tweet to younger people.
Every adults dream is to lie in bed in cotton pajamas and play on their phone until nightfall.
— Bunmi Laditan (@HonestToddler) July 23, 2015
Sharpie is a brand that caters to kids and teens on Twitter. Here are some examples:
RT @KernanFarms: Our Little Jacks love a @Sharpie! pic.twitter.com/6jz70W25Fn <tx for the reminder. #Halloween right around the corner! — Sharpie (@Sharpie) September 19, 2013
You can read more about their tactics for targeting teens on Social Media Examiner Sharpie case study. This can help you with your tweet to younger ages on the Twitter network.
Twitter In The Classroom
Many teachers have been using Twitter in the classroom. They started to use Twitter in elementary school. It doesn’t mean each kid has their own Twitter handle. Many likes. Mrs. L’s class uses it but the kids send their tweets to their teacher back in 2020.
Mrs. L. then had to approve the tweet before it goes live. It was used as a connecting, sharing, and learning tool. It is a way for teachers to bring the world into the classroom. They can ask authors and politicians questions and get answers back.
Some teachers use Twitter to share calendar events with parents. They can also use Twitter to engage with parents. Some classrooms use Twitter to track the weather and the stock market.
Teachers and students can get very creative with different ways to use Twitter in the classroom today.
Older Twitter Ages Who Tweet
@QuiltingMuriel was 96 years of age and her tweets were quite funny. She was an inspiration to follow.
You know we oldies invented recycling, been doing it for over 80 years. It started with Xmas fruit cake & bad birthday gifts… — Muriel B (@QuiltingMuriel) August 20, 2015
No one knows how many days we each have left, so every Monday is a gift and a joy! #MondayMotivation
— Muriel B (@QuiltingMuriel) August 10, 2015
Notice the difference between the younger peep and older peep tweets? The younger folks use more images (and video) whereas the older peeps may not know how to insert images or videos into their posts.
Older people tend to use more text-only tweets. I saw this with other older peeps in the Twitter stream. But this is very interesting in 2023 as linkless tweets rank better in the algorithm. You can see this in your own tweet impressions as I share mine below for you:
However, if your tweet is targeted at younger people be sure to include images and or a short video.
What Are Other Stats of Twitter Users?
Other statistics show that more college-educated people use Twitter today than ever. Those that earn over $75,000 also are top users on Twitter. (Stats from Pew Research, good to know for your tweets). Most tweeters also live in urban areas. 36% of users use Twitter daily.
The proportion of Twitter users who visit the site daily is around 52%.
We must remember too that there are many more social networking sites since Twitter was introduced back in 2006. Since then, some people may have found Twitter to be boring. Others are just not logging in daily but viewing tweets via Google search now.
However, 96% of users now log in at least monthly to their Twitter accounts. The biggest users are from the United States, followed by Japan.
Your Turn On Twitter Ages
Do you know some very young or older people on Twitter? Do you think age matters with your tweet today? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below.