Twitter and other social networks throw up all sorts of fascinating data. At the stage, what it all means is anyone's guess but a picture is starting to emerge. No doubt marketing experts will be poring over these studies over the next few months in the hope of cracking the elusive formula of monetizing social networks.

First, we have an interesting study on the Harvard Business blog showing that not all Twitter users are alike. According to the study, men have 15% more followers and are more than twice as likely to follow another man than a woman. The average woman is 25% more likely to follow a man than a woman and the average man is 40% more likely to be followed by another man than by a woman. Similarly, most Twitter don't tweet that often. According to the data, 10% of Twitter user generate 90% of tweets.

Another worthwhile Harvard study here found that friends will have an impact on the purchase probability of some users but not all. According to the research, "moderately" connected like keeping up with the Joneses so the social influence will influence their buying decisions. But highly connected users tend to reduce their purchases of items when they see their friends buying them. They like standing out from the pack and will abandon the item once it hits the mainstream.

Based on that study, you would have to say that Facebook and Twitter might not be long for this world because the suits in business have jumped on to it. Now, it's just not cool anymore.

If you don't believe it, think of what the suits did to Second Life. No one talks about that anymore.