| Twitter is for the chattering classes |
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| by Stan Beer | |
| Monday, 16 February 2009 | |
  
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Twitter also enables users to search for chatter about any subject with the search results automatically updated in real time. Users can choose which Twitterers they want to listen to (or follow) on a reglar basis. So what you end up with is a continually updated list of Twitter members that you follow and a continually updated list of Twitter members who follow you. The things that are likely to appeal to many about Twitter are its simplicity and currency. It enables you to tune into conversations about subjects of interest in real time. It allows you to find out what your peers are talking about in the here and now. It's a collection of thoughts from a global community For a journalist, blogger or writer looking to build an audience for their work or to find out what people are thinking about any particular subject the benefits are obvious. Some journalists have built lists of tens of thousands of followers. Like many of the more popular social networks, the Twitter business model still hasn't been clearly defined. The business basically runs on the funds from its VC backers, who incidentally just pumped US$35 million into the company. It has been suggested that Twitter's real value - perhaps its killer business application - is the ease with which it allows users to search for the most current opinions on topics of interest. The Twitter community has been likened to a giant focus group that could be exploited by business interests. Twitter, despite reportedly having a phenomenal 55 million users, is still very much a work in progress. However, with that many users on board all chattering to each other about every topic under the sun it is quite understandable that, global recession or not, there are plenty of heavyweight financiers who are eager to see the work progress further. As for me, I intend to treat my initiation into the Twitter community as a personal experiment. Try as I might, I simply can't stay involved Facebook, MySpace or StumbleUpon. I have tons of connections on LinkedIn but I've yet to figure out what to do with them. At this early stage, Twitter looks promising. Like the business itself, whether the promise will be fulfilled remains to be seen. |
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