TPR Presents the Weekly Download 3.25.11

Posted by Kristina Zelisko on Mar 25, 2011 in TurnerPR

Five years ago, software architect Jack Dorsey and his co-workers held a brainstorming session, during which Dorsey proposed a messaging service that would allow users to communicate with a small group through SMS. Soon after, he sent the very first Twitter message; “just setting up my twttr.” Within two years, the service had expanded beyond its initial use as an internal communication tool and gained widespread adoption by technology professionals. Today, Twitter boasts more than 200 million users, including celebrities, heads of state and Fortune 500 companies.

Professional networking service LinkedIn hit a major milestone this week, passing the 100 million member mark. While the social network doesn’t have the same visibility as Facebook or Twitter, it is an increasingly essential tool for professionals in a variety of fields– in some industries, a LinkedIn URL on a resume is a must. In addition to the rapid growth of membership, new developments at LinkedIn aim to improve its utility, including the integration of other social networks, job listings and industry news feeds.

Research indicates that while television viewing is still a popular activity for consumers, a wide majority of younger viewers use technology to communicate with friends during programs. The study, released by Digital Clarity, showed that 80% of subjects under 25 years of age used a second screen to chat with peers while watching TV, and 72% used Facebook or Twitter to comment on the show itself. These statistics demonstrate the extent to which social media has been integrated into the daily lives of younger people, and represent an opportunity for companies to engage in the conversation that is already happening on screen in realtime.