While social media analysts (us included) ponder the future impact of “Twitter-tizing,” it’s important to note that some brands have already had success using the micro-blogging platform to boost sales. Sony, for one, recently divulged it booked £1 million in sales of Sony Vaio computers via its Twitter feed. Before that, Dell announced it recorded $6.5 million in “direct” Twitter sales of various computer supplies.

Before you assume this sales channel is only for tech brands, think again. A new piece of research by Nielsen shows that shoppers are using Facebook, Twitter and the like to do more than just socialize. The study, which looks at the buying habits of the Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boom and the GI (or “Greatest”) generations, draws some interesting conclusions about the future of social media commerce including:

Twitter is a huge untapped outlet for reaching Boomers, who increased utilization 469% during 2009. Reach one and you reach their entire follower base with product info and special offers.

It continues:

More than 80% of X-ers are online checking out Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, shopping and price checking online and texting or emailing friends. Deliver quick hit info and offers using new media for fast results.

And finally, going younger, it writes of the Millennials:

These visually-oriented shoppers will Tweet and text about special deals real time from the store aisles about what looks good today, where to meet-up, and anything cool that catches their eye on site. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit a quirky Millennial sweet spot, and they’ll YouTube or Hulu a video of a helpful employee or unusual in-store promotion.