Because of its relatively recent explosion onto the international scene, there are non-tweeters out there who may think Twitter is a highly sophisticated and complex offering requiring computer skills they just don't have. Nothing could be further from the truth. Twitter is an elegantly simple SMS (Short Messaging Service) that allows you to keep in contact with people you know and to come in contact with people who don't currently know, but would like to get to know. In essence, that's all there is to it. You create a Twitter Account and then list the people you know and tell the system the frequency with which you would like to be in contact with them. Then you find people you think you might find interesting and ask to be added to their contact lists. Once again, you tell Twitter how you want to receive "Tweets" from them -- right away or delayed.
Twitter: The Upside
A "Tweet" is a response -- limited to 140 characters plus URL if desired -- to the question: What are you doing RIGHT NOW? Twitter's power and appeal lies within the phrase "right now." There are those of us who grew up reading instruction manuals before attempting to use new "toys." Then there are the young who toss aside the manual, plug in the toy, and figure it out as they go. They want it "RIGHT NOW." It is those younger folks who gave Twitter its initial boost but its popularity has eclipsed them and now includes Businesses, Members of Congress and the Media -- both young and old. Why? You can go to Twitter and enter any topic you can think of into their Search Engine and you can find out what people all over the globe have to say about that topic right now. And then you can join in the conversation.
Twitter: The Downside
Despite its massive appeal, Twitter has its critics. Many of them say that Twitter's simplicity leads to superficial and perhaps even trivial conversations. And the immediacy of the conversation, they say, does not overcome its inherent lack of depth and breadth. What can you really say of any importance in 140 characters? Tell that to the people of Iran. Even the New York Times credits Twitter for its role in the recent public outcry in response to the Iranian Presidential election of 2009. Although email and mobile text messaging services were blocked, Tweets weren't, and interested and connected citizens in Iran were able to share with each other exactly what was going on, and where and when things were happening. Even if you concede the point of lack of depth, Tweeters are finding ways around that, including links to blog posts and articles that provide more information about the conversation under discussion.
There is a perhaps a more relevant downside to Twitter that asks the question: "Are you Twittering away your time?" Consider the following tale of woe. A father goes to visit his son at his college dorm and finds his beloved offspring curled up in a corner of the room, disheveled and unshaven, frantically thumbing his mobile device. Dad calls out "How are you son?" and the young lad looks up with a glassy stare in his eyes and manages to croak out two words. "Tweet, Tweet." The boy had become a Twitter Junkie.
Although this modern day fairy tale might seem laughable, it does raise a point about the potential misuse of Twitter. Twitter is not a substitute for a life, it is a way to heighten and enrich the experiences of life. The people on Twitter with large followings are generally people who lead interesting lives. Some actually hire people to manage their tweets. Like any technology, Twitter can be abused. If you are spending all your time Tweeting, when do you have time to actually do something interesting about which to Tweet? So be responsible and Keep Tweeting!
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