Prompt's TechBlog

The news that Obvious Corp. is selling Odeo to focus on Twitter led me to think some more about what's so important about Twitter.

Like many people, I tried it when I first heard about it, but rapidly concluded that it was of no earthly use to me. Under what possible circumstances would I want to tell the world what I'm doing right now, in 140 characters or fewer? I've got a mobile phone; if I want someone to know where I am, I can call or text them. If I've got something more substantial to communicate to a wider audience, I'll write it on my blog.

It wasn't just me, either. If you look through blog posts about Twitter, you'll find loads of people wondering what the point of it is, even as they deem it to be 'cool' and even 'addictive'.

It seems that sociologist and internet theorist Sherry Turkle may have the answer. In a New Scientist article last September, she observed that 'always-on' connections to the internet are altering our minds - to the extent that we are no longer able to assess how we feel about something unless we share it with our online social network.

Once the preserve of teenagers, this need for constant validation has spread to adults with the proliferation of 'connected' devices. It's possible, therefore, that people who find Twitter addictive are people who don't think their thoughts and experiences are 'real' unless they share them online. One step closer to the Borg hive mind?

Labels: web 2.0