Can you handle the Twitter Truth?

Twitter has become the main media outlet for social interaction. It is almost at an unhealthy level, but is used for many different mediums. Twitter is being used to really serve as a comment section to news stories to voice illogical opinions and start biased driven arguments. Twitter from a social standpoint is somewhat combustible now, however the app still is a large driving force in the distribution of information.

Twitter has become so much more as an interactive person-to-person way of communication and socialization. It was originally thought of being the shorter to the point version of Facebook. Twitter became an important part of disseminating information in real time. Due to this real time information, the site’s traffic is usually high. High traffic is music to Advertisers, and Marketing Executives ears. Twitter thrives on being short, sweet, and to the point. Quick advertisements or promoted tweets randomly pop up in news feeds, and it is almost certain they will be seen. If this is coupled with the fact that Twitter is every growing by the day, as more and more connections are made, the traffic for these ads is very high. To that point as well, Twitter has become a way where people can market themselves. Twitter has literally become an extension of a person’s voice, and can be judged solely on what may have been tweeted out. There have been celebrities, and people in power who have lost so much due to something unintentional and mindless that was Tweeted out on social media.

Twitter has served as a major, major lynchpin when it comes to the give and take balance between politics and journalism. This has become extremely evident with the prevalence, volume, and controversial divisive rhetoric our President thumbs out on a daily basis. The President sends out somewhere between 31 and 36 tweets per day now, which the majority of which is to defend his position on policy or current events. The sheer volume of it provokes a ton of reaction from the “ Joe Six Packs” of the Country. What It also does is generates a lot of attention from Journalists who want to comment, the left side hammering what is said, the right side applauding. These Journalists attract a lot of attention with the comments and threads as much of their followers are waiting to see the stance taken on the latest topics and tweets. Journalists can create a larger following with a strong Social Media presence. Micro bloggers can also generate a large following, and achieve credibility with a good Twitter presence. Twitter has changed the way events are covered, and has changed the way Journalists are ascending in the profession.

Twitter has also served as a medium for Journalists and Politicians alike to work together in the time of crisis, or emergency. Times where aid and help was needed, Twitter served as a way to share information quickly and efficiently. In California this fall, Twitter served as an important channel to disseminate information as evacuations near the Los Angeles area were taking place. Power to several communities was cut intentionally or unintentionally, but messages still needed to take place. Twitter was able to assist successfully in keeping evacuees out of harms way. Another unfortunate event that took place was the mass shooting in El Paso Texas. 46 people were shot, and in the aftermath, hospitals were running short on blood. The El Paso Police department was able to tweet out alerts on how to donate blood and solicit donations. This undoubtedly saved countless lives that day. In early October in Dallas, a Tornado struck the northern suburbs just outside of the city. There was not a large warning time, and because it struck during the 9:00pm hour during a Cowboys game 40 minutes away in Arlington, it created complications. Twitter was able to spread information to people leaving the game as to where it was safe to drive and not. Getting that information real time prevented many potential issues.

Some Twitter subjects that were interesting had to do with the evolution of the game, and ways that its been made safer as a result of innovations. By following and tweeting certain accounts that are relevant towards the game, raise awareness and knowledge that can hopefully give tangible information regarding the game. Tweeting at TV figureheads and pundits is always entertaining as well. Being able to send irrelevant unheard tweets towards the President that will go unanswered fits within today’s cultural social norms.