March 18, 2008
The true value of Twitter
Posted by Jess in
Tech Talk
Ed Brill and Volker are talking about their new found enjoyment of Twitter, the social service that allows people to quickly send "tweets", that is, to broadcast 140-or less character updates about what they are currently doing.
The big question that I see brought up all the time is the Who, What, When, Where and Why’s about social networks, Twitter in particular. "Why should I be using this? What is useful about this service? How is this different than any other social service? Why do I care what anyone else is doing at the current moment?"
Usually, when we talk about social sites, we give them two classifications. They are either useful to the tween/teenagers generation and disregarded as frivolous and dangerous, or they are useful to the corporate world, in which they are embraced and welcomed with open arms to the working force.
I'm going to give you a demographic that I think has never been mentioned when talking about social networking sites, yet I feel stands to benefit the most from them.
I'm talking about the hermits. The stay at home moms. The homebound. The work at home warriors. Even though it may be by choice (though not for some, such as the disabled or ill), there is still a basic human need to belong. People whom otherwise might not be socializing enough now have a medium in which to come very close to the next thing besides face to face banter. I believe this, as I know what happens when you feel like you don’t belong. In fact, people who belong to any category of social group tend to live longer (church, organizations, extra-curricular activities); the fulfillment leads to a more generally happy and healthy life. How’s that for necessity?
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, the third element, right after basic needs like sustenance and sleep, is purely social. To belong, to be accepted, to be supported. I myself discovered what I think is the true value and spirit of Twitter when I caught a particular post by Phil Randolph, who said, (something like), "Too much change in my pocket - must procure snack. Headed to vending machine." This statement might be passed off by some as a purely frivolous statement; however to me, this captured the very essence of office banter that I get jealous of Matt for getting to have on a day-to-day basis. This sort of statement wouldn’t even get sent to me via instant message, which is what I feel makes Twitter a very unique service in that regard.
To the existing cubicle or office dweller, this chatter may seem ordinary, venturing on boring and mundane. But to the isolated, this captures a small sense of office banter that I can finally grasp. This is the sort of thing a co-worker would come up to you and say if you were in the same building.
Thank you, Twitter, for giving me a small part of a total experience.
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Comments
find "jhimm" on Twitter.
:)
I am watching everyone on the uptake of what I tried to form at Lotusphere with the Twitter channel. I have a bunch of blog postings ready when PlanetLotus moves over and will put one on Twitter tools I like over the past year.
It took me awhile to figure out what it was. Alan tried to show me at Lotusphere. In the end, I needed Phil to give me the "Twitter for idiots" lesson via email and then I was off to the races after a few posts.
Funny you say that, I suggested to my wife to use it and she just laughed at me. She's home with our 7 month old. So am I but I am working :-)
follow me via lotusvenagelist on twitter.
And thanks to Chris because wihtout it at lotusphere, and now the 801 client widget function it wouldn't be what it is for us now.
How true --
When I worked from home, I would've loved having another way to feel as though I had a connection with people. And I suspect that if it should so happen that I'm in that situation again sometime soon...... Twitter could definitely be a part of a happy home-worker life.
L
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