Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Twitter on CBS News VIDEO

The mainstream media tries to understand and report on microblogging tool Twitter. Along with Jaiku, Pownce, and Plurk, Twitter is used for status updates, link archiving, insight sharing, beta invite distribution, product announcements, SEO, and personal conversations. Messages are 140 characters max.

Those who attack Twitter use the same accusations that were used against blogs: it's trivial, narcissistic, silly, time-wasting, pointless.

Like with blogs, some users Twitter what they had for lunch and other drivel. A common practice has been to Twitter what airport you're in or what tech conference you're attending.

But many users have found Twitter to be a fast, simple, effective way to keep in touch with colleagues and to exchange ideas.

Blogs still tend to be preaching pulpits where one person states an opinion, and readers may be able to post a comment. Twitter, on the other hand, is a rushing river of brevities, a stream of compu-telepathy, dominated by no one.

On Twitter, even an A Lister or other celebrity are just one voice among a vast chorus of other voices.


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