The research, which was conducted by Sysomos who specialise in analysing social media, found that 95% of current Twitter users signed up since 2009 which means that only 4.7% of current member members were using the site prior to this.

Sysomos reported that they examined over a billion Tweets and 20 million Twitter users as part of the study into the habits and changing patterns of the social network site.

Launched back in 2006, Twitter saw healthy growth figures within the first couple of years of its existence, but come 2009, the micro blogging site sky rocketed in the popularity stakes. The surge in sign-ups may have also been aided by the large intake of celebrities and also businesses who started to recognise the value of Twitter as a marketing tool to publicise information about themselves or their company.

The statistics collected by Sysomos also revealed that Twitter members have become more open about sharing information on the site, with the number of people choosing to add a 140 character bio to their profile doubling since 2009 going from 31% to 69%.

According to the study Twitter members also more willing to share their location via the site as 81% now reveal where they are, compared to just 44% in 2009.

The adverts will be marked as “promoted” in order to easily distinguish these ads from other tweets. The kind of adverts which appear on each individual’s timeline will be tailored to their likes and dislikes according to the information they give on Twitter.

The micro-blogging website was set up three years ago and now boasts 25 million members worldwide. Until the introduction of promotional tweets, the site was unable to make any money from the social network.

The move will allow advertisers and internet marketing companies to connect to a massive audience worldwide. The strategy of tailoring ads to users’ interests will ensure advertisers target the people who will be most interested in the product advertised.

Previously, advertising on Twitter only appeared in the search results.

As well allowing paid-for ads to appear on user’s tweet streams, in the future Twitter plans to offering advertising space on the main pages of Twitter members. As with the other ads, these will be geared towards the interests of that particular member according to the information they share on the micro-blogging website.

Twitter is currently experimenting with the new advertising system as it attempts to find the right times, and types of ad to display to its users. The paid-for adverts will only be available to view by those members who have installed HootSuite.

Twitter's list of forbidden passwords leaked by computer expert

An internet blogger has uncovered a list of passwords which micro blogging website Twitter has banned from use on its website.

The social networking site is clamping down on passwords which could be used as by hackers to infiltrate private accounts and post fake Twitter updates. The list of banned passwords may include those which have been used in the past by hackers, either successfully or unsuccessfully to break into Twitter accounts.

Obvious passwords such as 112233, and abc123, are high on the list of those not accepted during the sign-up process, along with popular film names such as matrix, batman, superman, star trek and star wars. Also movie characters like bond007 and Gandalf will also be given the red light by Twitter.

Larry Seltzer of pcmag.com believes many of the banned passwords may have been flagged up because Twitter has detected potential hackers attempting to use them previously. The computer expert says it’s advisable to change your password if it resembles anything similar to those on the black list to avoid falling victim to hackers.

The list of over 350 forbidden passwords was uncovered by internet blogger VILERICHARD after he did a bit of digging on the social networking site.

Twitter is currently ranked as the world’s third most used social network site with 55 million monthly visits.

Twitter updates are now searchable through Microsoft's Bing and will soon appear through Google

Just after the news broke that Microsoft would start indexing Twitter updates through their newly launched search engine Bing, Google also revealed that they have plans to follow suit and will also begin delivering status updates from Twitter in the near future.

The real-time Twitter search feature was announced by Microsoft at a web summit in Australia this week. The organisation said they also have plans in the pipeline to start delivering status updates from the other giant in social networking, Facebook.

Microsoft’s Bing is already displaying the Twitter updates. The service brings the user tweets related to a topic typed into a search box taking into account, the author, content, and how many times the tweet has received comments or been re-tweeted. It is not yet known when they will begin delivering the Facebook updates as well.

One of the biggest players from the world of search engines, Google who currently command an estimated 65% of the US market, confirmed that they too have come to an agreement with Twitter and their update service will swing into action in the coming weeks.

Not ones to be left out in the dark, Yahoo! are also believed to be in the process of negotiating a deal with the micro-blogging site Twitter.