From my North Norfolk News column, June 2009. This lightly edited archive text retains my perspective and the social media landscape of the time. Twitter has since been renamed X.
Students like me love distractions at this time of the year when they should be busily getting on with revision and have finished lectures for the year – in fact we love distractions all the year round – particularly those on the internet.
So it has come as no surprise that after the success of the websites Bebo, MySpace and Facebook that another should become popular – this time a website called ‘Twitter’.
The idea behind these sorts of websites is that you either make friends with internet users based on common interests or you talk to your current friends as well as the distant friends you used to know from your past.
Twitter, however, is slightly different to what the internet currently offers.
As it is a fairly new website, you are very unlikely to find many friends that you know and unlike other websites which effectively turn into a chat, Twitter’s sole purpose is to basically tell the world what you are doing or thinking in one line.
It’s not too dissimilar to the occasional tone-deaf pensioners you find on public transport who end up shouting their thoughts for other strangers to hear, except you’re doing it on the internet, and the strangers might just reply.
Frequent readers of my previous work will be aware I love a moan so they will be unsurprised to hear that I have found the whole concept quite addictive – as have a variety of celebrities, politicians, and organisations.
So why are they doing it and why is it that they don’t have anything better to do with their time?
Celebrities have chosen to do so because it’s all about talking about their lives and it is an opportunity to find out how popular they really are. Stephen Fry is the king of Twitter and frequently mentions Norfolk or Norwich City. The comedian Rob Brydon is also a good follow – particularly as he was recently talking about a visit to Blakeney.
Meanwhile, the politicians are joining because they need all the support they can get in this week’s elections and as an additional bonus it is one of those few opportunities they get of rambling without being heckled.
The media organisations, on the other hand, are using it as a tool to promote their work and gain an understanding of what the public are thinking.
As for the rest of us it acts as just another one of those crazes and distractions that take up those quiet periods during the day.
A search for ‘Norfolk’ on the website brings up a huge number of messages including those from the state in America but the talk about our region is buzzing too – from Sheringham market to the views of those supporting the Norwich City football club and those visiting our coasts on holiday.
Until the next obsession comes along it seems like Twitter is here to stay to keep users entertained, but whether the politicians will remain online after today’s election results remain to be seen.
For me the opportunity to procrastinate between revision, exams and work is enough to keep me hooked. But the question is will you be joining me?