A couple of weeks ago, Joel McHale (The Soup) referred to Twitter as "…the digital macarena." An amusing observation, with more than a touch of truth to it, I think. I can't remember the exact statistic (so I may be misquoting here), but I recently heard that something like 2/3 of new users on Twitter never log in again after their first month. I wouldn't be surprised by that number, frankly.
I'm not terribly active on Twitter, but that shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me well. I signed up a couple of months ago and I've tweeted a few times, but haven't felt any real compulsion towards keeping it up. Let's face it, I'm not really into 'sharing'. I mean, I quit wearing t-shirts that said things because I found it encouraged random strangers into thinking I wanted them to strike up conversations with me. (Trust me, I didn't, and I don't.) It's debatable whether the "what are you doing NOW" nature of Twitter is really something I'm interested in.
Last month, for example, we were in Vegas for a few days and I tweeted from the Paris Sports Book (an occasion I figured could actually merit tweeting). The next night we were at Michael Mina's trying out their tasting menu, and I thought "I should Tweet about this." Then I realized that anyone that was likely interested in what I was doing at that moment was already doing it with me. So I didn't bother with the tweet. Maybe I'm not the guy to look to for Twitter's future.
But I can see its appeal, and I can see valid uses for it. It's a great way to keep in touch with people, and I can see countless opportunities for its use when you're coordinating with people in different locales (especially if you're trying to connect in the real world). And its uses for businesses, brands, celebrities and anyone or anything trying to stay connected with the public are obvious. (Just ask Demi and Ashton, right?)
But how many of us are doing interesting things as often as we're posting them? Do we need to know that you just got home from work, and are feeding the dogs? Do we care whether you're off to get ice cream today? The immediacy, ease and popularity of Twitter can encourage the notion that what you're tweeting about is interesting to anyone outside your head, which often, frankly, isn't likely the case. Andy Warhol's infamous "fifteen minutes of fame" concept has been beaten down, overused and abused to the point of meaninglessness (watch any reality TV show for any length of time to realize that), but Twitter helps take it to an entirely new level where everyone is famous all the time… all you need do is tweet and people will follow you. And, by extension, care.
It'll be interesting to see where Twitter goes in years to come. I don't really think it's like the Macarena, destined for the dustbin of forgettable memes. But what it becomes after its 'hot new thing' status fades, and it's simply another communication tool at our disposal, is where it'll get interesting.
I'm not terribly active on Twitter, but that shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me well. I signed up a couple of months ago and I've tweeted a few times, but haven't felt any real compulsion towards keeping it up. Let's face it, I'm not really into 'sharing'. I mean, I quit wearing t-shirts that said things because I found it encouraged random strangers into thinking I wanted them to strike up conversations with me. (Trust me, I didn't, and I don't.) It's debatable whether the "what are you doing NOW" nature of Twitter is really something I'm interested in.
Last month, for example, we were in Vegas for a few days and I tweeted from the Paris Sports Book (an occasion I figured could actually merit tweeting). The next night we were at Michael Mina's trying out their tasting menu, and I thought "I should Tweet about this." Then I realized that anyone that was likely interested in what I was doing at that moment was already doing it with me. So I didn't bother with the tweet. Maybe I'm not the guy to look to for Twitter's future.
But I can see its appeal, and I can see valid uses for it. It's a great way to keep in touch with people, and I can see countless opportunities for its use when you're coordinating with people in different locales (especially if you're trying to connect in the real world). And its uses for businesses, brands, celebrities and anyone or anything trying to stay connected with the public are obvious. (Just ask Demi and Ashton, right?)
But how many of us are doing interesting things as often as we're posting them? Do we need to know that you just got home from work, and are feeding the dogs? Do we care whether you're off to get ice cream today? The immediacy, ease and popularity of Twitter can encourage the notion that what you're tweeting about is interesting to anyone outside your head, which often, frankly, isn't likely the case. Andy Warhol's infamous "fifteen minutes of fame" concept has been beaten down, overused and abused to the point of meaninglessness (watch any reality TV show for any length of time to realize that), but Twitter helps take it to an entirely new level where everyone is famous all the time… all you need do is tweet and people will follow you. And, by extension, care.
It'll be interesting to see where Twitter goes in years to come. I don't really think it's like the Macarena, destined for the dustbin of forgettable memes. But what it becomes after its 'hot new thing' status fades, and it's simply another communication tool at our disposal, is where it'll get interesting.
Comments
Go look up "google wave" and you will see the future of Twitter written clearly. It has about 1 year of life left. Wave is the future of communication over the internet.
I have a particular worry about Twitter, and even possibly Wave...don't these things pretty much equal a sort of self-gratifying ego stroke? "Boy, I bet everyone wants to know what the fuck I'm doing ALL THE TIME."
The upcoming generation of children are already growing up with an inordinate sense of entitlement. And, now we're seeing tools that continuously feed their egos and narrow their world view to 'their circle'.
I don't want to sound like an old fogey. Frankly, I'm looking forward to Wave. But, a part of me wants to say I weep for the future.
As for the ego-stroke, that's pretty much what I was thinking when I made my Warhol reference. Apparently in recent surveys, school age children, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, have been replying "famous". (I don't have any idea if this is a one time thing — a single survey — or been happening repeatedly. Hell, it could even be apocryphal, but it's a scary stat if it's real.)
Fame has become something to aspire to, divorced from any activity or accomplishment (i.e. actor, singer, astronaut, politician) that would actually MAKE one famous. Of course, with examples like Tila Tequila and Paris Hilton out there, the idea of someone being famous simply for being famous is hardly a strain on the imagination.
You may sound like an old fogey, but you're probably an old fogey with a valid concern. (Hey, does that make me one as well? Damn.)