Pear Analytics recently released a study based on measuring random tweets to come up with their very analytical observation that 40% of all tweets are, in their words, “pointless babble.” Another 38% of the tweets were characterized as “conversational” and a full 8% were deemed “moderately interesting.” A full 10% were either spam or self-promotion (which I view as the same).
So What?
What I would like to see from Pear Analytics, is what percentage of random “fly-by’s” my office are pointless babble of someone just needing a quick break from the day to share with me how they went out last night for a “love it” mint-mint-chocolate chip at Cold Stone. Or, the percentage of emails I get that are thanking me for the thank you I sent to them, for something they should have done without a thank you, but their Gen Y, so I need to keep giving pats on the back, or they’ll become “disengaged.” And, if that happens, then I’m sure Pear Analytics will do a study that will show that because I didn’t reply to their thank you, of my thank you, they are now 5% less engaged then they were if I would have never sent the thank you to begin with…but I digress.
This real issue that we face as HR Pros are studies like the one mentioned above, perpetuate the idea by senior executives that “social media” has no real function in the majority of business settings. So, it is easy to cast it to the side, and you and your HR peeps miss out on using a valuable tool. What you, we, and us need to continue to do is demonstrate with real-world examples of how this type of communication does help us do business more efficiently. So, the next time you feel like tweeting about how you’re having a hard time shaking yourself awake this morning – or how ur on your way to lunch for a #4 – or you just wonder aloud why the color purple even exists – Stop! Realize that what most people share is “Pointless Babble”, which makes Twitter truly like a real conversation, and then realize that someone is staring blankly at a computer screen reading your “pointless babble” and thinking less of you for it.
Let’s just hope Pear Analytics doesn’t start surveying HR blogs for “Pointless Babble”…
Tim- I totally agree with you on the emails I have to send to thank people for doing even minor tasks that are part of their job- it’s crazy. Then, they email saying “you’re welcome”. So annoying. I tell my colleagues not to thank me unless I really do something meaningful for them.
On the useless babble, I think I’m guilty of a good morning tweet or two and probably some others that tell my followers little personal snipits about me. If I try to make most tweets “valuable” information though, don’t you think it helps build relationships on Twitter if you do know some of the personal things about the people you’re connecting with? I’d argue that HR should just do a good job of explaining to leadership that it is part of building relationships. If I sat at work and only spit out statistics and “HR advice”, no one would want to talk to me. I have to be at least a little human.
Love the post!
Okay, this was hilarious.
And, admittedly, there is a lot of “pointless babble” out there, and some of it even comes from me now and then.
However, most of the “pointless babble” I’ve seen on Twitter comes from folks who aren’t using their account for anything job-related. Most of the HR & D&I Pros (and civil rights activists, the other group I follow) do about 60% meaningful, 30% conversational (or “networking”) and only about 10% babble – and even then, if the babbling is really witty, I totally give it a pass. Because the workday needs all the funny it can get.
It’d be interesting to see how the numbers would play out if we reduced the sample to those who mention their careers in their Twitter bios. I bet there’d either be less babbling, or the babbling would be a lot more fun to read.
Actually the “real” story behind the babbling on twitter, only goes to prove the power of social media. Fast Company has a great write up on the story behind Pear Analytics and their study.
Oops forgot to add the link, http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/wendy-marx/brand-u-wendy-marx/draft
I guess generational stereotypes get the best of us! Being a true Gen Y, after I saw the tweet for this article, I shot back a reply at first impulse to @timsackett and @FistfulOfTalent with a tone that clearly conveyed how absurd I thought the idea of “not having pointless babble on twitter” sounded like! *sorry about that
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My case – My personal twitter account (@vj1987), according to me is my own little space – like my personal blog – I tweet whatever I want to (sometimes I count from 1 to 10 one at a time), I fiercely watch the followers and whom I follow. For my organization, however, I use two different accounts (@benifys and @benifysfollows) – former for disseminating information and latter for conversation and following people (and there is never one bit of blabber on any of these).
Tim’s comment about “someone staring blankly at a computer screen reading your “pointless babble” and thinking less of you for it”, has true nightmare causing potential though!
Loved the article. I think it’s about relationships and twitter works – it allows me to develop relationships. I agree that studies like this are largely pointless.
Vishveshwar,
You are absolutely right – there is a very fine line between your professional brand and personal brand when using various forms of social media. I’m more on the careful side – and basically try to leave it mostly professional. Although, my personal stuff probably wouldn’t be much different!
Thanks for the comments,
Tim
My point is, 60% is not pointless babble, according to the above. Use of a 3rd party app such as TweetDeck allows me to group the discussions of those I follow as I like them. Further more, until I move up an order of magnitude on the number of followers I have, it allows me to maintain friendships and relationships, without getting bogged down in the ‘babble.’
It makes you wonder how much of our work day is productive versus pointless babble.
Most people do just enough not to get fired, and most companies pay just enough so someone doesn’t quit.
I declare Fridays as Pointless Post Day, it’s the Casual Friday for Social Media!!
See the official declaration:
http://www.theyippie.com/TheYippie.com_/The_Yippie/Entries/2009/8/31_Yipsdom_of_the_Day.html