Entering into the Twitter and social media sphere, there are opinions as if those who tweet are brilliant or just spoiled young people. Many cons exist, such as distractions from school and work, information overload and information leaking that one might not want to be made public. There are enough positives that make Twitter a social media road worth driving down.
"It's basically the same thing as Facebook but it keeps getting more streamlined," said sophomore Jake Raplee. "I feel like Facebook gives you more time to dress yourself up. Twitter shows who you really are."
Twitter has all the amenities of a Facebook and MySpace. You can upload photos and update others in small status text boxes. Twitter allows these text boxes to express yourself in a maximum of 140 characters.
Twitter can also be used as a creative space for those who need to vent or to get something off their chest. I have read tributes about deceased family members and vents about exams all crafted on Twitter.
I find it crazy that with the flick of a finger on my smart phone or click of a mouse that I can check detailed updates about anything on twitter.
I can tailor these updates so I can choose what information I want to receive. Updates on my feed from the past week ranged from the crushing elimination from Olympic contention for the US Men's U-23 soccer team, updates on candidates on the campaign trail or news about Auburn's UPC spring concert. I am locked in and I will always be updated on what is going on.
Besides providing a creative outlet and instant information, Twitter makes jobs easier for those in a time crunch. One can tweet out an address from their computer to a friend if their phone is dead. Organizations like Camp War Eagle and S.O.S. have Twitter feeds to help keep future Auburn students updated on when deadlines are and future leaders when applications need to be turned in.
Lastly, I feel Twitter has paved the way for other morphs and social media. New websites like Tout where you can express your thoughts through video plays or Four Square where you can announce to the world that you and your significant other just grabbed lemonade at Toomers Corner. I think being able to share information this rapidly is a pleasure that many from passed generations would have killed for.
I hope Twitter continues to prosper but stays creative in terms of how it grows. Sometimes limiting your users to 140 characters and giving them a chance to personalize their feed is all you need to have an audience and the world hooked.
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