Several times a day, Indianapolis resident Monique Gilliam looks forward to answering a four-word question, “what are you doing” and reading others’ response.
“It gives you a glimpse into what people who are close to you or a celebrity you find interesting are thinking,” said Gilliam. “You can let your guard down. It’s a mini-window into other’s lives.”
Social networking has practically become the norm, but the newest sensation, Twitter, has exploded in popularity. Some believe it’s pointless, voyeuristic, annoying and a waste of one’s day while others see it as a useful tool in practical parts of life.
Twitter, a free service, allows you to broadcast group text messages to cell phones from either your mobile phone, an instant message or an online form at twitter.com. In 140 characters or less, Twitter participants send “tweets” or the messages to their “followers,” friends you’ve agreed to let read your scaled-down thoughts.
All of your notes are stored and displayed on a created profile page and includes links to your followers’ Twitter pages.
Twitter jargon may appear confusing, but the site has become so fascinating, at times users can’t log onto the site to post what they’re having for lunch or alert followers about a great film they just saw because of the influx of traffic. Twitter’s “fail whale” even has it’s own fan club. Has this reached cult status?
Despite the Twitter fanfare, not all are a-buzz about Twitter and could think of 10 things they’d rather endure than receiving another text message with people’s thoughts.
“Twitter sounds like what happens when you get something in your eye, but Twitter is the newest sensation,” said Nancy Giles, reporter for CBS’ Sunday Morning. “It’s a kind of blogging, like an online diary almost, but weren’t diaries private (with) locks on them?”
While Giles and others like her don’t see the point, Sheila Shidnia, director of web marketing and communications at Butler University sees it as a way to simultaneously communicate with multiple people.
The fact that it’s quick, informal and spontaneous gives Twitter its draw for many people. Twitter is mostly popular for it’s personal use, but Shidnia also states it’s perfect for business use.
“On the business side, it’s very difficult to connect with people that do what you do via e-mail or going to Web sites. This is great because you can search for a term and see everyone on Twitter using that term, start following them and really connect,” explained Shidnia.
To stay current in her profession, Shidnia has become a follower of others in her field to network and stay abreast on current information.
“Nine times out of 10, they give me a piece of news that hasn’t hit the newspapers yet,” said Shidnia.
While multitudes of Twitter participants are also avid Facebook (maintaining popularity) and Myspace users (which is slowly becoming a social networking fossil) Elizabeth Kiggins, director of the Center for Instructional Technologies and assistant professor at the University of Indianapolis states it’s also perfect for academic use.
“If you had a classroom of students, you could put them in groups and have them discuss different topics or posts,” said Kiggins. “If you’re the shy student this gives you a venue to state your opinions.”
Kiggins does warn users who use Twitter for academic or business purposes to be cautious of the legitimacy of information and really consider your source. She also advises users to pick unknown followers wisely.
While people such as basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, comedian Kevin Hart or singer Erykah Badu increase in popularity due to their random daily thoughts, Kiggins states Twitter is a place for regular people, young and old, to share.
“It gives everyone the ability to be heard,” said Kiggins.
E-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, Myspace, Facebook and now Twitter. Twitter may appear to be simply another social site to keep up with, but others stand behind it as an easy way to exude the natural, human need to communicate with one another. Now it’s 140 characters or less easier.
“A lot of the social networking tools are going to come and go. Pick the tools that are the most beneficial to you at the time. I have a Facebook page, but I’m on Twitter basically all day,” added Kiggins. “They advertise themselves as fun, but I see it as a tool. Give Twitter a try.”
