The Joys of Microblogging

One would almost think that the traditional ways of communication are relics of the past. Conversations that were conducted using telephones and even email have been replaced using social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and perhaps the most convenient of them all, Twitter. Twitter is a microbloggin site, a new form of communication in which users can describe their current status in short posts distributed by instant messages, mobile phones, email or the Web.

The simplistic, yet precise connivance of twitter is growing in popularity, and is expected to surpass that of even Facebook; Goliath of social networking sites, in the next five years. Twitter is a quick status based networking site, which keeps you connected with millions of people without the bells and whistles of traditional social networking. There are no friend requests, no tacky web pages saturated with unnecessary html layouts, and most importantly site updates that throw off the usefulness of the site.

With Twitter, you create a unique user id and the process begins. You just simply choose to follow whomever you like and vice versa, staying connected by current topics and status updates. You can post a status, view other statuses posted by people you follow, and repost these statuses using the re-tweet (RT) function that allow others to see it. Doing this alerts the person that you re-tweeted microbloggings, increasing your chances of gaining more followers. Twitter statuses can also be linked to you Facebook statuses as well, which is a plus. You can update in one spot.

Another insightful component about Twitter is its trending topic capability. This is noted by the # sign followed by any phrase or word that you want people to acknowledge. This serves as a vital tool in raising awareness about a wide range of topics such as Distance Education, iPhones in classrooms, State of the Union or the Haiti Relief efforts supported by people all over the world.

The same way blogs and wikis can be used to collaborate with other students in a non-traditional setting; Twitter can have somewhat of the same effect. It allows students to stay connected with each other on a 24-hour basis. Twitter tracks the changes and updates friends and followers make in the same manner as a wiki would. It’s a good way to exchange contact information or direct others to content deemed important for class projects. The same ideas that can be placed in a blog can be transmitted through a microblog, just in smaller doses but to a larger number of people.

Twitter serves a very good purpose and is used by everyone from celebrities to government officials. Its very easy to use and can benefit those who choose to use it wisely.