We’ve all heard a lot about Twitter. What is it for? Twitter takes a simple approach to social networking by allowing its users to summarize what they’re doing into 140 characters (called “tweets”) and broadcasting in real-time to their network of “followers,” which may consist of friends, family, business associates or complete strangers (read more about Twitter on Wikipedia).
Twitter is a cultural phenomenon that is highly related to Gen Y and subsequent generations who have been raised in a virtual environment where being connected to the internet is almost akin to having a roof over your head and food to eat. As a successful brand, Twitter has effectively created its own culture, as its users are now part of a larger group that uses it as a means of communication and interaction.
The formation of a truly global culture that is constantly pushed and pulled in different directions is influenced by the evolving technology that we use and encounter on a daily basis. As we are aware of what people are doing, feeling and saying in distant locations, we are able to see disparate points of view. Thus, Twitter is forging an awareness of the world in a hyperactive way that may influence our global mindset.
Do you use Twitter? What is your reaction to the tool as a means of communication?
-Sean
