An article from July in covering a new Pew Internet study called “Social Networking Sites and Our Lives” suggested that Twitter and Facebook users are “dumb” compared to LinkedIn users. I get what they’re trying to say, but I take two issues with this article in Media Bistro.

First, and not to go all PC on you, but this study by no means suggests that less educated means “dumb.”  Just because someone has less education than another individual does not necessarily indicate that they are “dumber.” That’s just bad data and bad presumption. This study didn’t evaluate IQ factors, it only evaluated level of education. It also doesn’t take into account socioeconomic status, which could affect the likelihood that the study participants either had access to a quality education in the past, or have access to a regular computer or other web-enabled device and the Internet. Interesting demographic data about users, yes, but the data is just incomplete and the Media Bistro report is half-cocked.

Second, I take issue with the fact that they lumped trade/vocational school with some college. The demographic who chooses to attend a trade school or vocational college tends to be very different than those who choose to attend community college or do not complete their term at a traditional four-year university. The way that it’s ranked also implies that trade school or vo-tech graduates are less educated than those with traditional college degrees, and according to this article … “dumber.”

In short, I’m not impressed.