Twitter and Tumblr
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
In a meeting yesterday someone suggested that we start using Twitter more as a company. I explained that I still wasn't sure what the application would be. For instance, who is interested in me (as an example) that much that they would want to know where I'm at and what I'm doing at all times of the day (and night!). If I were a CEO or a rock star or Presidential candidate, maybe. Then again, maybe not. I really don't care where Bono is at all times of the day ... if it's important enough I'm sure I'll see it on the news or the next issue of People.
I guess there are some social networks of people that truly become engrossed in each other to the extent that they always want to know what's on that person's mind. I'm thinking it's maybe a 20-something thing or maybe high schoolers, although my daughter's not into that. She does text message alot, however. But that's another story and that's direct one-to-one communication.
At some point the perfect consumer or business application for Twitter will come to my mind. Perhaps if we have a road tour of sorts sometime soon we can Twitter where it is so that IBOs can step out of their doorways and wave as it goes past. Or maybe a Team Nutrilite athlete could Twitter about what they're eating or doing to prepare for an event on the other side of the world later this summer, although I suspect that Twittering might get in the way of their success on the track.
As a parent, I guess it would be cool to be able to track my kids wherever they might be via something like Twitter. I just don't think they'd use it in that manner. Like we gave my son Conner a cool cell phone recently so "he could call us when he needed to be picked up" or other similar situations. I think he's done that about three times exactly. Most of the time he's texting friends, shooting videos and snapping pictures with it. I know, cell phones have come a long way. Everything but calling mom and dad to pick him up. Sigh.
When I got home last night after having the conversation about Twitter, I found this LA Times column reprinted in our local paper and it made me giggle a little. It's all about Twitter and Tumblr, which I hadn't heard of. Apparently I'm not as up on social media as I thought. In any case, Mr. Stein seems to share some of my thoughts on these tiny snippets of thought shared broadly via these services.
There once was a time where correspondence ruled and the art of letter-writing was pursued. Presidents and important people published books containing just their correspondence. There also were (are) columnists who publish nice collections of their musings. I suppose this can happen with the better bloggers as well. I am waiting for someone to publish a book containing nothing but their twitters (and/or tumbls). I'm sure it will be a fascinating read.