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Four Reasons Why Twitter Works

A few days ago, Aaron of Technosailor wrote a piece on Twitter and how it further accelerates the machine known as social media. Though the noise may prove to be seemingly useless but entertaining (I’m eating peanuts now. They’re in a big bag … not a small one) he points out something that can spike interest:

Then someone posted yesterday, I thought it was Scoble, and commented that he uses Twitter because it gives him an eye inside the mind of early adopters. Now that is useful. So I set up my account and to be honest, it’s addicting. [source]

twitter.png

And so like him, I went on and created my account, added up a few friends and amidst knowing what everyone does on an hourly basis (so far, everyone on my list thought 300 was WOW) but I also have some occasional gems like knowing when Leo Laporte uploads his TWiT podcasts and know when Chris Pirillo asks for feedback on tech events such as the recent SxSW conference.

Why Twitter Works:

It gives an eye inside the mind of early adopters. Aaron explained this already.

It can replace live-blogging. It is much faster and easier to do live twittering as all you will need is a phone connected to GMail chat

It is cheaper than SMS
. Similar to how people in the Philippines (the SMS capital of the world) use web based applications for SMS such as Chikka, Twitter can work the same way as long as you and your friends are configured to receive messages only from each other.

It can be so useless to the point that its engaging. I remember my old literature professor talking about how useless literature and the arts can be — but then he added that “in the most useless of things can you find the most profound lessons.”

Are you on TWITTER? Add me up. My profile page is here. I’m going to try to do a live twittering of the Davao Blog party this weekend and the Philippine Blog Awards this 31st via Blackberry chat.

By Jayvee Fernandez

Jayvee Fernandez is a tech enthusiast and sitting Techbology Editor for The Philippine STAR.

He is also an EAN certified SCUBA Diver and underwater photographer based in Metro Manila, Philippines. His photos and videos have appeared in various international and local publications including Random House Germany, Discovery Channel Canada, and CNN.

7 replies on “Four Reasons Why Twitter Works”

Hey Jayvee. Yep have been twittering for about a month now. Yesterday I was twittering through dental surgery, up until after anesthesia was administered.

What I like the most about it is that you feel someone’s next door – which is good for friends from far away. And although it can be senseless at times, it is totally addicting.

I just wish they’d set up a toll free SMS number for the Philippines.

[…] developers of Twitter for creating something grand out of something non-sense. I like how Jayvee put it: It can be so useless to the point that its engaging. I remember my old literature professor […]

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