Since the 2006 launch of Twitter, a social-networking and microblogging website, society has been able to know minute by minute, second by second what is going on in the world around them. Not only has Twitter started a new wave of instant communication, it has also encouraged all groups of people: companies, celebrities, small businesses, students, as well as the everyday person to update the world on exciting (or not so) happenings in their lives.
For many, Twitter has become more than a website, but an obsession. The infatuation for “tweeting” (the main reason for obtaining a Twitter account) has grown to 50 million posts per day. Twitter mainly consists of constant tweets being posted, which can be compared to Facebook’s status updates. “It’s a lot simpler than Facebook, and if there is something you don’t feel comfortable saying on Facebook you can say it on Twitter,” said senior Claire French, a member of the Twitter for two years.
Many companies, such as Target, Chipotle, Best Buy, and Lululemon Athlectica take advantage of Twitter’s ability to send out information and promotions to the public in a timely manner. Celebrities have also begun to “tweet” about where their next appearance will be or when their new single comes out.
Along with large companies and celebrities, the everyday person is given the chance to let the outside world in on their day. According to Twitter, 1.8 million tweets are sent every hour, and younger generations have began to take advantage of the phenomenon. “On a good day, I probably keep it too a minimum of seven or eight [tweets],” said French.
Twitter has a number of followers but there are also a number of people who refuse to jump on the Twitter bandwagon. “I think it’s kind of ridiculous because it’s basically giving a person an excuse to tell everybody what they are doing or what their plans are, and I don’t want people to know what I’m doing,” said sophomore Eleanor Raether, who does not have a Twitter account.
As the public becomes more addicted to constantly being aware of others’ plans, Twitter’s followers will only grow from here. Twitter is the new means of communication, and a much faster way at that.
