 |
Issue 6
Twitter Revolution
Twitter and the Social Networking Revolution
“What is Twitter?” is the question I usually get when I tell people to check out my Twitter page (www.twitter.com/joseadan88). “Why do I care what you eat for dinner, or who you are with?” is usually the next question. People may look to Twitter as just another useless social network, but within the past year Twitter has helped shape the way people look at media and most importantly the news.
During last November’s Mumbai terrorist attacks the sole information news agencies received from the hostages inside the attacked hotels were from the victim’s Twitter and Youtube accounts. It was quick, it was reliable, and it was sure to catch some attention.
During the recent Iranian presidential election protest Twitter was again one of the few outlets where news agencies were able to obtain information. After Iran had banned foreign journalist from reporting within the country, companies like CNN and the New York Times resourced to eyewitness accounts that were captured via mobile phone video, and the uniquely short tweets, (140, or less, character posts via Twitter).
Individually Twitter doesn’t give its audience a big voice but collectively, through twitter search functions like hash tags (example; #IranElection), it has created a massive internet based movement. The ability to link Youtube video and other photos via sites like Twitpic has also highly impacted the way information leaked out of Iran.
On Monday June, 09 Iranian state news station “Press TV” reported quiet and calm in the streets of Tehran, Iran’s capital and largest city, but Twitter showcased a completely different story, a story backed with horrific mobile videos and photos.
The term citizen journalism took a whole new path with the revolutionary growth of Facebook and Youtube; and now that Twitter has joined the pack whole new levels have been reached. What once would have taken a whole news team hours, sometimes even days, to report is now executed seconds after the event.
Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself. Visit www.pulpandsoda.com and see our video’s that explain just what Twitter is and how it can be used to impact your world, and maybe even your business. Don’t forget to go to our gallery and see some photos and videos brought to via Twitter from Iran.
- José Silva
