Compete.com just released data for the month of July and it appears that Twitter’s growth rate—measured as unique visitors—has taken a big hit.

While Twitter grew 16.6% in June, the site slowed to a snail’s pace of just 1.25% in July.

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What does this mean for the previously declared fastest growing social media site on the internet by Nielsen just a few weeks ago?

But—to put things in perspective—this is the second time Twitter has slowed since January. In May of this year, its growth went from 38.56% in April to just 1.47%.

One thing we can be sure of is Twitter’s 949.6% growth from July 2008 to July 2009. Impressive—but then again—even this is down from a previous 1,164% growth from June 2008 to June 2009.

What’s going on here? Is Twitter beginning to level out?

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Photo by mattyho

In response to the recent backlash against Twitter among those in the media and elsewhere who just don’t “get it,” I direct your attention to a great extraordinary article written by Geoff Manaugh over at BLDGBLOG.

I wholeheartedly subscribe to the notion that Twitter—the technology/platform/operating system/infrastructure—is separate from how people use it.

But I found his two comparisons of ball-point pens and using notebooks in public to be one of the most striking examples of a McLuhanesque consequence of a medium like Twitter:

Imagine a world where everyone used typewriters: they write novels, manifestos, historical surveys, and so on, and they do it all using typewriters.
Now the ball-point pen comes along. People use it to write down grocery lists and street addresses and recipes and love notes. What is this awful new technology? the literary users of typewriters say. Ball-point pens are the death of humanism.
Nevermind, of course, that you can use ball-point pens to write whatever you want: a novel, a screenplay, epic poems, religious prophecy, architectural theory, ransom notes. You can draw astronomical diagrams, sketch impossible machines for your Tuesday night art class, or even work on new patent applications for a hydrogen-powered automobile – it doesn’t matter.

He describes Twitter as a note-taking technology. Fair enough. Regardless, you really need to go read the rest.

How the Other Half Writes: In Defense of Twitter [BLDGBLOG]

The graph below speaks for itself, but I’ll tell you anyway: Twitter is at the 6 million unique visitors mark for January. Good news for Twitter researchers like myself. A recent study by Pew Internet also notes Twitter’s surging growth:

As of December 2008, 11% of online American adults said they have used a service like Twitter or another service that allowed them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others.

Twitter, rock on.

The link to my thesis Twitter survey has been circulating around Twitter and spreading like wildfire—thanks to Robert French @rdfrench at Auburn, who very kindly sent the link out to his over 2,000 followers (twice!). He definitely got the ball rolling.

If you’re a Twitter user and haven’t already participated, here’s the link! http://bit.ly/SrkQ

Takes less than 5 minutes to complete for most people and has been described as “easy stuff,” “takes about 4 minutes,” “quick & easy!,” and my personal fav: “Go Orange!” by @allanschoenberg.

I’ll be posting some of the results as soon as data collection is finished and after I’m able to analyze everything.

If you have any questions regarding this study, you can contact me using the information below:

Philip R. Johnson, Ph.D Student, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, 215 University Place, Syracuse, NY 13244, +1-315-430-9133, phjohnso@syr.edu

Mashable has a great post on the ways that Twitter can help you in the real world—from getting personal reviews when making a decision to getting better customer service.

9 Ways Twitter Can Help in the Real World [Mashable]