Class Blog - Twitter

Twitter. We all hear about it, yet most of us don't know what it is, or what it stands for. I was once a part of this group, however, thanks to my Computer Science class on the Internet, I have now learned what it takes to be a "tweeter". Twitter basically is a little update, limited to 140 characters, in which people post things about themselves, their lives, their thoughts, or even hold conversations back and forth with each other. I just began using my twitter account (twitter.com/miltiadisC) recently as part of a class requirement and I already understand what can cause its addiction.

One of the main reasons people tweet is because we can be followed by people, and in turn, follow others. As Dr. McMinn says, we are social creatures by nature. So this makes sense that people would enjoy being involved in other people's lives. Personally, I enjoy following people who I emulate such as Baltimore's Ray Lewis or even twitter health updates. It gives me an opportunity to follow and keep up with not only celebrities and sports stars but also friends and family. Likewise, people can follow me as well.

It's rather strange to be followed. Imagine a person who pretty much follows you everywhere they go. You would call that person a creeper right? However, it is comforting to know that I can limit what that person knows and sees about my life by simply censoring what I say. I do think it's a little creepy considering I have a follower who I have no clue who that person is. It is a little disturbing but if statistics from my psychology class are correct, that person is not likely to be a pedophile. I rest at peace.

So why do people tweet? That is the question of the hour. Now I could never actually record everything I do in life, however, I certainly would like to remember the little things I do each day. Twitter gives me that opportunity to record little tidbits of my day and be able to follow other people doing the same thing. Celebrities have Twitter and now I can be one of the first to hear about their comments on certain events and such. It's incredibly addicting, especially if you have constant Internet connection. I learned in class that thousands of people are both getting Twitter accounts, and using Internet connections with their cell phones each day. I think the technology as a whole is very interesting and that it does need to be carefully used. Twitter is a nice tool and an excellent way to get your opinions out there. However, one must be careful not to use it too much and become absorbed into the virtual world of the Internet.

According to what I learned in my computer science class, Twitter is a form of what is coined as "microblogging". If you know your prefixes, micro means small/tiny, so basically If I could condense this entire blog into something small (say 140 characters), it could be considered a microblog. Microblogging is a newer craze that is just beginning to catch on. Most microblogging can be done through cell phones and this has been increasing popularity. However, I can only imagine what the future holds for microblogging. I think something using bluetooth technology and a Twitter-esque display would be interesting. Kind of like I can pick up nearby people's bluetooth signal and through that, maybe I could see their personal Twitter and as a result, reach a mutual understanding with them. For example, a guy walks into a pub and picks up the bluetooth of a girl who just posted how she wished Manchester United would stop under-achieving. The guy is a Man U fan and viola, there is an instant connection between two strangers. I think something of this type of form that would help form relationships, and thus satisfy the need to belong (in psychological terms), and make instant connections with random strangers. Like all new ideas, only time will tell.

In the end, I still don't know if I will continue using Twitter the way I have been as part of my class requirement, however, I at least will be more understanding when people say they need to get on Twitter every hour or so. It is something new and is worth giving a shot, even if you are as stubborn as I am. Only time will tell when and where the latest technological craze will happen. Until then, I will be more than happy to think about Paris this coming weekend. :) Au Revoir!