Twitter. So Hot Right Now. Twitter.
Posted by PRGirlz Alumni on April 20th, 2009
As you may have noticed, Twitter is VERY “twendy” right now. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Twitter (the micro-blogging site where users can send and read other users 140 character updates known as tweets) has been ALL over the media lately. This was due in large part to the fact that Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) was the first Twitter account to reach 1 million followers. If you want to learn more, my colleague Dave Fleet did an interview with CityOnline on the subject and also wrote a blog post about it.
Twitter has been around since 2006, but only in the past couple months has it really reached its tipping point. I started on Twitter last September when it was still in its growth stage, and it has been very interesting to watch it develop into what it is today.
I like Twitter. I get a little sneak peak into the lives of the people I am interested in. I follow everyone from friends, to coworkers, to news sources, to people who tweet about subjects I’m interested in, to celebrities. And people even follow me too! There are a lot of great things about Twitter, but many people seem to think it’s just a fad.
I think the future of Twitter really depends on how people continue to use it. There are a lot of people who use it to foster an instantaneous and mass-audience type of communication that can’t be achieved elsewhere and also those who simply post really neat information and tidbits about their lives. However, there are others who unfortunately use it to spam or try to get the most followers.
Personally, I think Twitter is an amazing tool for communication and I can’t wait to see where we take it.
What is your opinion on Twitter? A useful tool for communication or just a fad?
Happy Tweeting 
April 21st, 2009 » 7:10 am
I think that Twitter is BOTH a useful communication tool and a fad. There are those who take Twitter more seriously and use it for the effective means of communication that it is. Particularly those in the PR industry are using Twitter to share new knowledge and contribute to the online conversation. But then you also have those who are just getting into it now because of the whole “fad factor.” These are the people that will stick around just as long as Twitter continues to be a hot topic, but their presence will likely fade as the novelty of Twitter diminishes as well. All reasons for using Twitter are valid in their own ways, and only time will tell what the future of Twitter will really look like.
April 21st, 2009 » 7:56 am
[...] Now. Twitter.” Posted April 21, 2009 Filed under: Comments | Tags: Blog Comments | Comment on Janna’s post “Twitter. So Hot Right Now. Twitter.” on the PR Girlz [...]
April 21st, 2009 » 8:48 am
Very valid comment Ashley! I think you’re right. As the “hip” factor of twitter increases, so will it’s users and then as it slowly comes out of fashion, the users who only saw it as a fad will very likely move on to something else.
And I also agree that there really is no wrong way to use Twitter. There are simply some ways that portray it as a useful tool more than others.
May 17th, 2009 » 12:59 pm
I know Twitter is trendy because a few weeks ago, we had a party and all my teenage nieces and nephews were talking about tweeting. They couldn’t believe I was on twitter too! Apparently, they think it is a “cool” thing for the younger generation, really I am not old, barely turning 32. I guess that is old to them!
Everything slowly diminishes into a long lost fad. Myspace is slowly losing its users to Facebook. Chat rooms were huge in the 90’s, they pretty much took the back seat to blogs and forums. Right now, Twitter is the most amazing tool for networking, sometimes a bit overwhelming in the number of people you can reach in such a short amount of time.
I am a Twitterer and I will be until the next newer, better social networking tool is available!
May 20th, 2009 » 11:09 am
Twitter isn’t a fad-it’s just the next step in communications evolution. As Michelle M pointed out, chatrooms begat forums begat blogs begat MySpace begat Facebook. Now Twitter is revolutionizing communication again. Will it drop out of fashion? Yes, because Web 2.0 will become Web 3.0 and communication will be revolutionized yet again!
June 5th, 2009 » 4:34 pm
Is Twitter a fad? Sometimes I wonder if answering that question truly matters. No matter what I or anyone else thinks about it, Twitter is slowly becoming the dominant social media tool used by the masses and one must simply go with the flow…follow the news. I am currently a student at Humber College in the Public Relations program and it is daunting sometimes the level of expectations that are associated with my generation and social media. Although Twitter may eventually find itself sitting on the dusty shelf beside MySpace, Hi-5 and Facebook, I feel that the core, social media, will become as common as paper and pen.
June 6th, 2009 » 2:16 pm
I agree with Tenesha’s point. Twitter is becoming the dominant form of social media. It is changing the way we communicate with each other. But I think one of the most important things to think about is the way Twitter is changing news.
Twitter is giving every person a voice to report stories, not just the media. We are now able to communicate news as it happens, sometimes even before the media can get the full story. Take a look at what happened with the airplane on New York’s Hudson River. According to Claudine Beaumont of England’s Telegraph, Twitter was alerting people of the crash 15 minutes prior to the media picking up the story.
I think that the way we receive news is going to continue to change thanks to Twitter. Many mainstream media outlets are adapting to this change by creating Twitter accounts. I believe that the media is progressing from communicating to their audiences to communicating with their audiences. Twitter is really just the beginning. As ChristieLea said, it will continue to evolve.
I’ve attached the story by Claudine Beaumont if you’re interested in reading more. http://tiny.cc/NMewx
June 8th, 2009 » 10:08 pm
I am with you ladies. Technology and communication is always evolving and as professionals involved in media and public relations we have to embrace these changes and work with them. As far as I am concerned I am delighted with the advent of social media. It about time that the power was taken out of the hands of editors and news makers and given back to the people. Twitter encompasses what social media is all about “community building.” People can engage with each other about everything from the latest news story to the hottest trend. The move away from a one way dissemination of information to discussion is a step in the right direction. It reminds me of those epic word from Empire Records ” damn the man, save the empire.”
I do although want to issue a word of warning about Twitter. I strongly believe that it should be used as strictly a tactic rather than a strategy. To engage your company or brand on this site means constant monitoring. Twitter unlike most business is not nine to five…so be careful how you use it should you chose to do so professionally.
June 9th, 2009 » 3:30 pm
Twitter: a useful communication tool or just a fad?
I think in some ways it’s both!
In recent months, Twitter has taken the social media world by storm but a recent study conducted by Nielson Online suggests that despite its popularity, Twitter may just be a fad. The study found that Twitter has a very low retention rate of only 40%, whereas other forms of social media like Facebook have a retention rate of 70%. Although Twitter has grown exponentially in the last few months, it must establish higher user loyalty in order to sustain itself long-term and not be labelled a fad.
On the other hand, Twitter is a very valuable communication tool. According to the Wall Street Journal, Twitter ignites new thinking, conversation and ideas. It connects people throughout the world, giving them the ability to share their thoughts and insights which leads to newer conversations and trains of thought. On Twitter, you can follow the most creative, new-age thinkers on the internet. This is why I like it most! In this way, Twitter acts as a valuable resource and educational tool that no other communication mediums currently provide.
Overall, I think that Twitter is an effective communication tool that is revolutionizing the way we communicate. I am interested to see what social media tool we will be introduced to next!
June 9th, 2009 » 8:14 pm
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about the ‘new’ phenomenon of Twitter. Nielsen’s reported a growth rate of 1382 per cent in the last year. That’s over 7 million users. It’s fast, it’s easy and it offers variety. You can follow your friends, favourite celebrities and the President of the United States all at the same time. What’s not to love!
It is a huge topic of conversation among PR folks everywhere. But the question remains, how effective is it for businesses? How do we measure the success of Twitter for business purposes?
I am a relatively new user so I’m still getting the feel for how others are using it. Sometimes I think that people are joining the Twitter craze with a Facebook mentality. I think it’s important to recognize that social media are different and they do require a slightly different approach. But as a growing medium I’m interested to see where it goes.
June 10th, 2009 » 11:10 am
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your comments – I apologize we’ve been a bit slow in responses.
I think Jamie brings up a very interesting point – how effective is it for businesses? Well, from a PR perspective and recent experiences I would say it can be very effective – depending on what your objectives are. Take for instance, the announcement of the new 3G iPhone. In Canada, the only service provider that hosts the iPhone is Rogers. Many people have opinions on this, and on Rogers services in general. But in the last few days the customer service responses I’ve seen on Twitter have been incredible. Kudos to @keithmcarthur and his team for doing such a great job. Prior to Twitter, there was no other way to get information or customer service aside from phoning directly or waiting for FAQ’s to be posted to a site. Now, people are getting answers in real time (for the most part) and they know that they are connecting with a real person who knows what they’re talking about – not a call center in India.
-Kerri
June 10th, 2009 » 6:26 pm
I am also a student in Humber’s post-graduate public relations program, which is how I originally heard about Twitter. It was constantly mentioned during my classes, and almost all of my professors encouraged the class to use it (even though not all of them are on it). Twitter is the only form of social media that I use. When I first heard about Facebook several years ago, I did feel that social media was just another online fad. However, I now realize that social media is here to stay.
I am not convinced that Twitter will always be around because someone else will create a new social networking community eventually, but I think the key here is the interactivity between people who normally would not have a chance to engage with each other. Through Twitter, I have had the opportunity to speak with CEOs of public relation firms, a chance that I do not feel I would have had otherwise.
I do think it takes a great deal of time and effort to build up a community and since I am a student and do not have a lot of free time, sometimes I do feel like I am talking to myself. Social media, and Twitter in particular (at least at this time), is a worthwhile tool for individuals who have the time to invest it in. It is certainly an excellent method for organizations to use to interact with their publics, manage their brand, and monitor what is being said about the company online.
June 11th, 2009 » 8:33 am
I agree that Twitter is a fad that will eventually pass. In the ever-evolving realm of technology, I cannot help but think what is next? Like all social networks of the past, such as Facebook and Myspace, what will replace Twitter?
Recent talks, from bloggers, reveal a new form of networking called socialized media. Essentially, socialized media uses visuals to communicate in lieu of the written word. Arguments are made that visuals do not provide enough context for the audience.
However, if we look at social websites, like Twitter, where messages must be written in 140 characters this furthers the idea that written words are becoming unnecessary and the power of visuals should not be underestimated.
June 11th, 2009 » 5:09 pm
Twitter, like other social media tools has taken on such a high level of popularity that it begs the question of whether or not it is an effective communications tool that revolutionizes our world or merely another fad that will soon die out.
I think the effectiveness of Twitter as a networking tool is undeniable when people decide to maintain an active account, logging in several times a day. However, to sustain itself as an effective tool for businesses communications becomes difficult to say, because it is hard to measure the motive behind people using Twitter. However, many people flood their Twitter feeds with information that does not provide insightful information, rather just tidbits of seemingly useless information.
Twitter is an extremely effective networking device and useful social media tool if you take the time to find people worth following and in turn update information, which can benefit others. In this light, Twitter is more than a fad, and it is in fact an exciting way to enhance relationships and help build new ones. For those that use it just because it is a ‘hot topic’, the novelty of updating useless tidbits of information does not have sustainability, and for those people Twitter will become a fad like many other social media tools.
June 11th, 2009 » 5:14 pm
Although Twitter may be a fad, I think it is still in its very early stages. I am also a Humber PR student and have only recently got on board the Twitter train (about three months ago). Although I am not that active on it yet, I am always interested to see how those in the PR and media industry have been using the site.
With Twitter, information is literally right at our fingertips. A couple of months ago, I was working on a paper about steps to change corporate culture. I tweeted about this, hoping for a few words (or tweets) of advice. Within just a few minutes I received a number of responses from people in the PR industry, happy to share their own ideas and tips on changing corporate culture. This is truly the only form of social media that can produce such instant, and varied, results.
Speaking to a journalist in the industry reaffirmed this belief. He said when seeking any advice or tips on a particular topic, he simply tweets about it and receives numerous responses from experts in that field. Certainly as a business and research tool, I think Twitter surpasses a number of other social media outlets, and for this reason, I have a feeling it will only continue to grow in popularity.
June 11th, 2009 » 7:28 pm
There has been a great deal of debate as to whether Twitter is merely a fad or whether it is a useful social media device. With the recent advancements in social media, it is becoming difficult to deny the importance of it to our culture.
The idea of Twitter being a fad is due in large part to the ability to “follow” celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher. However upon a deeper look, one will begin to realize the many ways Twitter can be much more than a celebrity tracking tool.
Twitter allows individuals an outlet to become better writers. There are only 140 characters allotted which makes for informative and concise writing. Twitter also encourages networking which can help lead individuals to create or further along an existing career or connect through similar interests. Corporations benefit from the use of Twitter by creating awareness and keeping consumers up to date with developments of their brand or company.
Twitter has many advantages. It offers benefits to the individual and the corporation and I think we will see a large growth in the acceptance of Twitter in the future.
June 19th, 2009 » 11:27 am
Thanks for the great comments!
I agree that, although it may be a “fad”, Twitter is still in it’s early stages and has become an increasingly important tool in our society, and an incredibly effective means of communication.
Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to everything and I really don’t think we can fault people who just post “tidbits of seemingly useless information”. Some people may be interested in those tidbits and like other social media tools, it may be a way for people to keep up with friends who live in different places.
And I also agree that I really like seeing how more and more influential people are starting to use this tool. It’s very exciting to see what’s out there.