Twitter Essay

"Can Twittering be considered a new cultural phenomenon or will it fade away?"

Do you Tweet? If you think I’m referring to chirping like a bird, you’re probably not on Twitter. Twitter is the latest microblogging website that has taken over not only the internet, but all of media. Users share their thoughts in 140 characters or less with the world (or however many followers they have). Twitter can be considered a cultural phenomenon because it is frequently featured on television, radio, in magazines and newspapers. It is utilized by many powerful and famous people including musicians, athletes and politicians. Finally, it has changed the way we send and receive our news.

Chances are you’ve heard of Twitter whether you have an account or not. If you turn on CNN you’ll find that they have a Twitter page that they often check in on. Viewers send in questions and breaking news information that the anchors then relate to the audience. Many radio stations now take requests via Twitter with no worries of having tied up phone lines. Magazines and newspapers create accounts to post links to articles online, enticing followers to buy their product and become readers. These Twitter accounts inform followers of current and upcoming television programming, radio contests and album releases, and featured articles and authors.

One of the biggest allures of using Twitter is the vast amount of celebrities who endorse it. From musicians to athletes to politicians, there is virtually no end of A-list accounts to follow. Those in the spotlight Tweeting include moguls like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama. Ellen DeGeneres has been credited with bringing thousands of users to the site through mentions of it on her talk show; users who previously did not fit the typical demographic. Those interested have signed up to follow their favourite pop stars, rock bands and musicians. John Mayer has nearly 3,000,000 followers that he can quickly and easily share concert dates and new songs with. Shaquille O’Neal, about 200,000 followers shy of Mayer, opened up an account in an attempt to combat impersonators on the rapidly growing website. Former U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin received a lot of attention for her Tweets during the 2008 campaign.

The greatest impact Twitter has had on our world is its effect on the way we send and receive news. It’s been responsible for real-time reports of the spreading H1N1 virus, the Free Tibet Movement, Iran protests and the recent Haitian earthquake. Twitter is the most popular microblogging website used today. The simplicity of 140 character or less messages enables users to send off important information worldwide in a short amount of time. With so many users, this information can be passed around at previously unheard of rates. A teenager in Guam can post an update and minutes later it can appear on our local news. This leads to quicker, more accurate reporting. No longer requiring a reporter to be sent on location, stories can be shared with millions as they take place.

Twitter shows no signs of slowing down, and why should it? It’s a cultural phenomenon that can be seen all over our media and is a convenient method of keeping track of celebrity exploits and breaking news. How do I know? A little bird told me.