Nov 30
Life in 140 Characters or Less
Twitter is a strange bird.
For those who have never heard of it, it’s a web-based update system that allows users to create an account, then post short answers to the age-old question, “What are you doing?” Basically, your friends can get updates from you on what’s going on in your life. You are restricted to just 140 characters at a time, so it’s far from the concept of being a blog.
I know that this is the Information Age, but is this overkill?
I signed up the other day for the service, quickly realizing that this is the kind of thing whose target audience is people far younger than I am. Within an hour of having signed up, an old friend from my college days sent me a message. I haven’t heard from her, aside from the annual exchange of Christmas cards, in a few years now. So signing up was definitely worth it just for that reason alone.
Facebook, a social networking site that is pretty popular these days, offers status messages for each user. This is essentially Facebook’s own attempt at Twittering. (Side note: I wonder why Twitter doesn’t seem to mind its name being used a verb: that’s supposed to be a trademark no-no.) Facebook has a character limit as well, but I think it’s a little higher than Twitter’s. One day, if I get really, really bored, I may count it out. I hope I don’t get that bored.
Do you, my readers, have a preference — or even any interest at all — in such things? Would you prefer to see the Facebook updates, the Twitter updates, or neither? Do you do either? Do you really care?
To those of you who are my age or older, don’t worry: I promise I am not a step closer to buying a Corvette. While a mid-life crisis may not be out of the question, there are limits in terms of trying to look hip and cool. Twitter and Facebook, at least, are free.
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November 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I prefer Twitter, because you can hook it up to facebook AND your blog. The facebook thing only puts your sentences on facebook.
It is overkill. However, sometimes I like to let the world know “it’s snowing” or “It’s cold” but don’t want to do a whole entry. So I twitter it, and it’s on the side of my blog.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I don’t use Twitter, though for a couple of years I’ve felt like I was the only librarian NOT using it. I use Fb, because I can “Twitter” there, but it has other whistles and bells (like messaging and all the apps). I’m all for consolidation, where it makes sense. And I’m older than you, with no convertible/Corvette/trophy spouse/etc. on the horizon.