TWITTER can be a tough crowd. When news broke last week that the profit-free internet phenomenon had attracted a $100m (£62m) investment and was now “worth” $1 billion, the reaction was almost as swift and harsh as that handed out to Kanye West after his unsolicited intervention at the MTV Music Awards.

“Twitter valued at $100 billion? (SIC) I heard $1 trillion and gets their own representatives at the UN,” Twittered milepetrone. “If twitter is worth a $ billion I must be worth twice that. I have a job and incoming revenues,” wrote gopevangelist. “Nutty,” was among the kinder comments.

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The average Twitter user is 31, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Just 11% are aged 12 to 17, according to comScore, a research company.

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