TECH411.ORG

By Jon M. Cohen

So, maybe you have not heard about the craze called Twitter. You may be thinking that Twitter is a product sold at the supermarket or at the hardware store, but the fact of the matter is that Twitter is an upcoming and popular social networking website. It allows you to do something called “Micro Blogging”. The idea is to share a thought or what you are doing in less then 140 characters. 

One of the nice things about Twitter is how friendly it is to use. Simple to setup and simple to use. It also allows for users to do Micro Blogging from many different devices. Some of the most popular devices are the twitter.com website, the mobile phone SMS option, or smart phones who have a application that integrates with Twitter. (e.g.. Apple iPhone’s Twitter App or Twitterberry on the RIM Blackberry)

Some of the functions of Twitter are to allow people to “Follow You”. In other terms this means you let them read the text that you are writing. As well you can follow others too. So if you want to see what a friend of yours is doing, you can choose to follow them and then you will receive updates on what they are thinking or doing as they update their profile. Users as well can send direct messages to people and in turn can receive direct messages. (Thus if you want to comment to someone privately you can send them a direct message.)

Twitter has seen its share of mainstream media popularity in recent times. From CNN using it to discuss election news and notes, (e.g. USA Presidential Election 2008) to the winning candidate from that election (i.e. Barack Obama) using it to connect with voters. It is suggested that during the period between Apr. 2007 – Nov. 2008, Obama was able to use Twitter to connect  with about 120,000 voters. (He has over 155,000 people who have subscribed (Follow) to his Twitter feed worldwide.) The shear ability to connect to that many voters makes the use of Twitter as a communication tool a revolutionary medium in today’s society.  It is assumed that going forward all major electoral parties will be using Twitter to increase their connection to the voters.

Another noted use of Twitter was the ability to give live personal description of the massacre in Mumbai (Nov. 2008). What took place during this troubled time was that people (tourists staying in the hotel as guests) were able to post updates about the siege during the standoff while being hostages in their hotel rooms. In fact it was these Twitter posts that told friends, and family that loved ones where alright! As well also allowed the army to know where the terrorist were in the hotel.

At this point you may be asking yourself why would you want to share (broadcast) what is going on in your life with millions of people worldwide? You may want to know why do people even want to know what is going on in your life? The answer to both can be summed up in to one concept, content! That’s right, if you are interesting and write interesting stuff people will read it. North Americans especially consume a huge amount of content and really look for new media like Twitter to fill this desire. Therefore when you make your new Micro Blog posts I would suggest that you think for at least a minute or two about what you are going to write and I hope that you will keep it interesting.

Now get out there, log in to http://twitter.com and start posting today!