Geek & Mild by Sean Sperte

What is Twitter?

[This article has been updated after Twitter made some changes to the semantics of their services, especially regarding “friends” and notifications.]

TwitterThat’s the question that everyone’s been asking and trying to answer for a year. What, exactly, is Twitter? Or, even better, why should you care?

It’s been labeled as web-based chat, microblogging, and “mobile social software”. John Gruber, web and technology pundit, said, “Twitter is to IM and SMS what weblogs were to email and Usenet”, while critics say it’s just another social networking website, or an added distraction in an already over-distracted culture.

I think Twitter is more than all that – or at least the idea behind Twitter is.

The basics

Twitter, at the core, is a method of communication. It is, in fact, not a new method, but it’s a simple one. What makes it special is the mobile support, wherein a user can interact with Twitter via SMS.

Before I go further, let’s look at what protocols (or methods) Twitter uses. There are three main ones:

  1. Web
  2. IM
  3. Mobile

All three protocols allow you to answer the question, “What are you doing?” and have it posted on your Twitter profile page (and, as I’ll show you, also forwarded onto those “following” you). To answer, simply text-message, IM or enter into web-form field whenever – or wherever – you want.

My Twitter status pageOnce you’ve sent your update (also known as “status” or “tweet” or a number of other terms relating), it appears on your Twitter profile page, and is automatically forwarded to other users who’ve chosen to follow you. This is where it gets a little tricky, though, because not everyone who choses to follow you will also chose to be notified. But I’m getting ahead of myself …

Followers

There are two levels of Twitter profiles: public and private. A public profile is viewable online by everyone, but that user’s updates only get forwarded directly to users who follow them. A private profile is only viewable by those who’re set as friends by the owner of the profile. By default, a profile is set as public.

Following is inherently one-way – meaning if you choose to follow someone, you’ll receive their updates, but they won’t receive yours … that is, until they’ve reciprocally chosen to follow you.

Additionally, if you set your profile to private, you must approve followers. Once you do, the account relationship is automatically set both-ways and you’ll not only allow that follower to receive your updates, but you’ll also receive theirs.

If, say, you’ve chosen to follow a person but no longer wish to receive their updates on your phone or IM, you can set unique notification preferences to off. Their Twitter updates will still appear on your profile, and they will remain a followee (or friend) of yours.

It’s important to note, now, that most (if not, all) handling of relationships and updates can be done via mobile phone using simple, natural commands. For example, if I wanted to turn off all notifications because I was in a meeting, I’d I’d simply text: off. Twitter will cease sending me any updates until I turn notifications back on.

To add a new followee, I simply text follow [username]. To invite a non-Twitter member: invite [10-digit phone number]. To turn off all notifications: off. Almost every function you’d need to be have mobile access to, you do.

You can even send a private message to a friend from a mobile phone, even if you don’t have their number. This came in handy for me while I was in Austin last month for SXSW. I was able to stay in constant communication with people I’d only met online and whose numbers I didn’t have, all through Twitter.

So what?

As I said, all this stuff isn’t really new. Twitter doesn’t bring innovation to the table so much as new interaction with innovation. What’s causing Twitter’s astronomical growth must have something to do with the uses people are coming up with for it. As a church staff member, I can think of at least a half-dozen off the top of my head!

John Edwards, politician and presidential candidate, is on Twitter. Fox News and The Wall Streen Journal tweet their headlines. Heck, even Santa’s Twittering now!

Twitter’s API has even made possible some cool third-party applications: Twittervision, Twitterholic, Twitter Tools, and Twitterific, to name a few.

You get the point.

It’s my opinion that anyone wanting to take advantage of web, mobile or new media technology needs to get on the Twitter bandwagon – if for no other reason, for research and ideas. Like I said, the idea behind Twitter is one that I think will drive a new wave of social interaction.

Besides that, though, it’s just plain fun.

Resources

23-Apr 2007
Ads by Fusion