Is Twitter Hurting Your Love Life?

With over 200 million users, Twitter is one of the largest and most popular social networking sites. With this type of major influence, Twitter has be subject to a number of studies on how it influencing individuals in their everyday lives. Recently, numerous articles have been published that talks about how active Twitter users tend to have shorter relationships. What's the real story behind this?

Both Mashable and Gizmodo published articles about Twitter's possible negative effects on your love life. Ok Cupid, an online dating service, recently performed a study on how romantic relationships do not last as long for the active Twitter user. Out of 833,987 Ok Cupid members, the majority who actively tweeted had shorter relationships. In addition, the problem continued to get worse with age. The study also examined that, "The average relationship for an 18-year-old that uses Twitter is about nine months." This is compared to an average of nine and a half months for 18 year olds who do not tweet. 

Ok Cupid's founder, Christian Rudder's has said that, "People who Tweet live their life in shorter bursts. Is this true? I have to believe it's very situational. I tweet a lot. Okay, I tweet too much, but it doesn't mean I am going to break up with my boyfriend because I happen to spontaneously updated my Twitter while I am bored in class. In addition, nine months versus nine and a half months? Two weeks isn't that big of a deal when it comes to dating someone. I don't think this is a really rational argument. The headline was more appealing than the actual research results. 


Gizmodo makes an excellent point in there article. What do we want from relationships? Generally something that is mutual, loving, happy, and easy. What is Twitter on the other hand? Gizmodo states, "Twitter is, for the most part, the antithesis of these things—unidirectional, cold, and vain." Perhaps they are right. Twitter for the most part is very vain. According to one study, "pointless babble" makes up 40% of tweets each day. Maybe Twitter is making us more self-indulged and consumed in ourselves. I can't speak on behalf of anyone else, but I know I don't want to be in a relationship with someone who is only concerned about their own well-being (as possibly their Twitter's well-being). 

Overall, I guess I am sort of surprised by this study (and let down at the same time). I was expecting a more "drastic" difference in relationship lengths. When I first read the headline I got a little nervous. I was hoping that I wouldn't be another person that made this statistic true (note to self: don't believe in self-fulfilling prophecies). At the end of the day, though,  I am going to keep tweeting. Stats are stats, this is real life. 

Social Media: It's a Political Battle

Tuesday. It's not quite half way through the week, nor is it the absolute beginning. Usually my Tuesdays are pretty dull. I go to class, I come home, I nap, I think about doing school work - pretty average if you ask me. Although it may be a dull day for me, there's never a dull moment in the social media world. Today, I decided to examine the political stories unfolding on social media websites. 


Many writers and bloggers have coined the next US Presidential Election as a social media battle. In 2008, social media networks were not as developed and widely used as they are today. Facebook has over 500 million users and Twitter is a little behind with 175 million users. Either way, there is no denying that millions of people are connected and sharing thoughts every day over one of these social mediums.

On Monday President Obama released his 2012 re-election campaign. However, this time it was in the form of a video that went viral.  I say it went viral because within a matter of minutes my Facebook newsfeed was bombarded with "I'm In!" likes for Obama. Obama's video release was an excellent and quick way to spread the word about his re-election. The amazing thing about social media is that each time someone liked the video, they could share it, retweet it, email it, and spread it to hundreds of people with the click of a button.

Shortly after Obama's video release, Republicans were prepared to release their rebuttal video. Whereas Obama wanted "change" potential GOP candidate, Tim Pawlenty (R- Minnesota) is telling us it's time for a "new direction." (Note to all politicians: I'm kind of sick of these generic "change" "directions" "it begins here" mottos.) Pawlenty's video is the exact opposite of Obama's. Instead of smiling faces talking about how excited they are for the election, the GOP video uses brisk, rough images of gas prices and financial crisis to depict the current state of America. If you haven't seen the price of gasoline, I recommend just staying indoors. The video definitely uses "shock value" to convey the importance of this next election.

Surely, the political battle can't stop here. Politicians took their thoughts and ideas to Twitter. Republican Mitt Romney called out Barack Obama saying, "@barackobama I look forward to hearing details on your jobs plan, as are 14m unemployed Americans.”

It will be important to monitor the political chatter during the next few days as million watch and share political videos. As we continue to share our personal thoughts and opinions through social media, the use of tags, retweets, and other tools will help politicians keep an eye on how the American public is feeling. #imready

Social What?

"Social Media" is a fairly familiar word to most us. We use Facebook, Twitter, and a variety of other websites to keep up with friends and exchange news. But what does "social media" really mean in today's technologically savvy society?

In chapter 3 of Engage, Brian Solis helps us define and understand social media in a different light. Solis says, “we should never strive to master something that evolves much faster than our ability to fully grasp its lessons, benefits, insights, and pitfalls” (Solis 33). At first, I was slightly confused by this statement. Surely, I am a social-media-sophisticated 21 year old, of course I can grasp everything. Soon I took a step back and thought of how frequently the social tools I use have changed. In fact, it seems like Facebook is always changing, thus causing millions to relearn the social skills they had just acquired.

For most people, social media networks are just social forums. They serve as tools to help individuals stay connected with friends and loved ones. However, for marketers, social media is the microscope into niche markets. “We’re simply becoming aware of our markets, the people who define them, and our place within each community” (Solis 33). Social media networks are helping marketers really reach out to their consumers.

Solis provides an in depth list of social media tools, each with a variety of different purposes. For the most part, I had heard of the majority of the social networks in Solis’ list. However, I was floored by how many exist and how many were probably not listed. Social media tools can vary from a simple blog, to videos, location devices, and photographs. The possibilities are endless. In addition, social media networks have broken down into specific elements. Flickr is a great forum for individuals to post photographs. Websites like Youtube and Vimeo are excellent tools for bands, film aficionados, and others.


So far, we have been able to see different social media networks, but we still have yet to come up with a concrete definition. Solis puts it best when he says, “Social media is many things to many people” (Solis 36). How someone chooses to use social media network will result in their own definition.

One definition that Solis uses is, “Social media is the online tools that facilitate a conversation” (Solis 36). To me, this is the truest definition. No matter what social network we use, we are someone engaging in some form of communication. Watching videos on Youtube can spark comments, thoughts, and opinions. On Facebook we comment, read, and converse with others. No matter what social media tool we use, we are engaging in some form of communication. Perhaps that’s why it is simply called “social media.” Socializing through media.

Engaging in Conversation

Last semester, I took an Entertainment Journalism class that focused on how social media is influencing the way news is transferring. The majority of us probably acquire our news from some sort of electronic medium. The idea of print journalism sounds almost foreign (well, not to me, but many others - personally I prefer reading off paper). Today, news can be obtained through online newspapers, magazines, eBooks, and many other print forms gone technological. However, many of us rely on social media outlets to provide us with day-to-day headlines. If it wasn't for Twitter, I would be clueless on a lot of current events. Social media is completely changing the way we consume news, and how we use it. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and even the unpopular Delicious, help us find news from different sources we would normally not be exposed to. 

Now, that I have completely diverged from my original thought, let me get back to the Entertainment Journalism class. In the syllabus, it said, "speak once, read twice." In addition, it said that listening was an integral part of the course. At the time, this really did not matter to me, but after reading the first chapter of Brian Solis' Engaged, it suddenly dawned on me how important listening can be. 


In class, we talked about how to get more followers on Twitters and how interacting with your followers can help boost your image. Solis talks about how social media is a "conversation." I believe this is a very integral part to the marketing side of social media. An idea I am very fond of, in relation to music, is the "connect with fans" theory. How many of us would love to get a reply from Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, or any other celebrity of your choice? Making your fans, or people in general, feel wanted and part of a conversation is likely to better your image. 

Marketers and customer service representatives tend to interact with consumers in a, how to do I put this, awful manner. Consumers are people too and don't need to be spoken "at." In order to effectively sell yourself or product, you should engage in conversation with your followers or fans. Social Media allows users to get to know their fans/followers personally. You have the ability to tap into specific markets. How you choose to use that information is at your own discretion. 


Overall, I think listening is something everyone needs to remember to do. Sometimes I find myself talking way too much and have to remember just to pipe down and listen. It's amazing how people are changing communication. If you open up your ears you'll learn something you never knew. 

UberFailure

On Friday February 18th, the worst thing in the world happened to Blackberry (and Android) users everywhere: UberTwitter shut down. For the millions of people that use this application daily, the sudden shutdown came as a surprise. 

As I sat in the library Friday morning finishing a paper, I went to tweet about how aggravated I was about the paper. Since Twitter is my "complaining" forum, this was a pretty regular task. Suddenly a foreign message popped up on my phone saying "FORBIDDEN." Naturally, I tried to send the tweet again. FORBIDDEN - again. Was this a joke? At first I blamed my Blackberry. It's not that I don't like my Blackberry, it just never likes to work when I need it to. After trying to send in the tweet 93029341 times I gave up and just went online. As soon as I signed on my Twitter, I noticed a bunch of tweets saying things like "RIP UBERTWITTER" and "UberTwitter has shut down." I was floored. Surely, this was causing a major inconvenience to people all over the world. For those of us that live and breath social media, this was the worst news ever. Sure there are other applications, but none were as efficient as UberTwitter (in my opinion). 

UberTwitter was unexpectedly suspended  from using Twitter’s API for multiple violations. According to sources, "These violations include, but aren’t limited to, a privacy issue with private direct messages longer than 140 characters, trademark infringement, and changing the content of users’ tweets in order to make money." News of the sudden shut down spread everywhere. Reports were posted on many major news sources such as: The Washington Post, The LA Times, and Mashable. Later on Friday, UberTwitter tweeted: 

In accordance with Twitter's policies, UberTwitter changed its name to UberSocial. As of Saturday, the new application was up and running. In my opinion, the new app is even better than the old one. It is easier to use, with many more options for users. While February 18th is a day no Twitter fanatic will forget, the outcome definitely outweighed the momentary tragedy. 

What's the latest trend? Ask Twitter!

School can be such a drag. Sometimes, it seems like weeks go by without even noticing. Can anyone else believe it's almost March? I must have been asleep for most of February because it doesn't seem like that much time has passed. Between the work, studying, and hustling around, it is very easy to lose track of current events and what is going on in the world. However, have no fear, Twitter is here!


Anyone who thinks Twitter is pointless should probably get with the times. As one of the largest and most influential social media networks, it is changing the way news is spread. One of the greatest features on Twitter,  is the trending tool. Twitter keeps track of what topics, words, or phrases are being talked about the most. Every week, Mashable collects this data and organizes it into a nice, easy to read charge that highlights the most talked about stories of the week.

While the topics themselves are interesting, it's the "trending" itself that is fascinating. The events and people captured in this chart are an exact reflection of who and what are running our society. Twitter is like a history book, but in electronic form - let's call it Twistory. 


The "most trended" story this week was "The Grammy's" To many people, this may seem like a useless fact. On the contrary, this is history in the making. 50 years from now, historians will look back on these "trending" pages and be able to have an accurate idea of what was going on in our society and this given point in time.

Yes, I am getting a little bit ahead of myself, but this is just another example of how influential social media really is.


To catch the rest of this weeks biggest trends, read the trending story on Mashable

It’s Almost As Sweet as Candy: Del.icio.us

Delicious. When I first heard that this was the name of a webiste, I was expecting to see cupcakes, candy, and sugar galore. Much to my dismay, it was a social book marking website (not that theres anything wrong with this, but I fancy candy products a little bit more!)

In class we learned about the social booking marking site Del.icio.us. Five years ago, the company was bought out by Yahoo!, and recently, has been scheduled to shut down. Millions of deliciousers, as I like to call them, were upset about the sudden closing of their favorite social book marking website. Before I go on anymore, I think it is important to explain what exactly “social book making” means.

Most of us probably spend a good number of hours perusing the internet and finding funny, random websites that we enjoy. We send these websites to our friends, family, and anyone else that might find them funny. After a while, it is easy to lose track of all these websites and forget about them. For anyone else who spends as much time as me online, have no fear, delicious is here!

Delicious is a social book marking website that allows users to not only save and store websites (like an RSS reader,) but, to socially exchange them with other members of Delicious. What’s the point of this? I found myself wondering the same exact thing at first, but after a brief demonstration, I was hooked.

Any communication major loves finding out about news. Delicious is a great way to witness how fast news can spread over the Internet. 

2011: A Social Revolution

Whoever said Facebook and Twitter are pointless really doesn't get out much. Facebook has 500 million users for a reason. The ability to have so many users speaks for itself. I got my Twitter account in March of 2009. Back then, I didn't see the point of a website where individuals were asked to constantly update what they were doing. So, I'm brushing my teeth, do millions of people really care or need to know that? Probably not, but if you take a step back, then you could see the amazing potential and power of a social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. 


Power and potential - how so? Malcolm Gladwell's article, "Twitter, Facebook, and Social Activism," in The New Yorker, really puts the importance of social networking sites in perspective. In an era where news can be transferred at the click of a button, and mass movements can be arranged over the internet, is our society on the brink of a social revolution? Possibly so. The recent protests in Egypt have put a heavy spotlight on social media websites and the power they hold. After reading articles day after day about the chaos and tragedy in Egypt, it is unbelievable the entire event was organized over Facebook. 


Facebook. How many times a day does the average person check their Facebook? I would answer for myself, but I would like to save some of my dignity. A website most people take for granted, including myself, most Facebook users look at their friends' walls, pictures, and comment back and forth on walls. The average user doesn't use the largest social networking website as an organizing tool for an national revolt, but what if this became a more common theme? Gladwell might have hit it on the nail when he said we're on the verge of a social revolution. 


Twitter has drawn a lot of attention recently because of it's ability to transfer "real time news." Users are able to place themselves in the situation and make any reader feel as if they are partaking in the event as it transpires. Gladwell talks about protests the 2009 protests in Moldolva, when citizens rebelled against the government. Sounds familiar. With the protests in Egypt, Twitter kept millions of people informed about events going on in Egypt as they happened. The use of metadata tools, such as a hashtag, help group and organize news as it is tweeted in. The #Egypt hashtag on Twitter brings up millions of people talking about the protests. Within these tweets, users provide the readers with valuable information and "real time" updates. 


After reading Gladwell's article, I am semi-convinced he might be telepathic. Gladwell's ability to weave history and technology, perfectly demonstrate what might be in store in the future. The article was written in October 2010, months before the events in Egypt. Although the protests are an isolated event, they could potentially serve as an example for future movements. 

Happy Birthday, Facebook!

February 5th is a monumental day in history. You might be asking yourself, "What is so important about this random day?" Well friends, today marks the seventh birthday of the largest and most revolutionary social network: Facebook. Over the years, Facebook has grown from an exclusive website for Harvard students to an international social and business phenomenon.

Social Media website, Mashable, did an awesome write-up about the history and changes Facebook has undergone over the past 7 years. Have a look back in Facebook history and reminisce on the days when advertisements and privacy settings didn't swarm your news feed.


7 Years of Facebook: A Retrospective

Which Social Media Blogs am I reading today?

I find that I spend most of my day staring at my computer. Whether it be Facebooking to get through class, or just surfing the web, I lose way too many hours to my MacBookPro. It's so easy to get lost on the web. You find one thing that interests you, which inevitably leads you another thing, which in turn ends up taking 4 hours of your life. Just like that, the internet took away your day. However, every now and then you find a few sites that cover everything you're interested in. I compiled a list of online blogs that really do an excellent job of keeping me informed on all my social media interests. 

Mashable – The Social Media Guide

The real question is, what isn’t interesting about Mashable? As a Social Media addict, this blog quenches my never ending desire to read and learn about social media and technology.

         Mashable’s main strength, in my opinion, is its variety of subjects. Whether it is Twitter or Facebook, to Technology and business news, Mashable has an entire 360 degree coverage of the Social Media realm.

         Mashable appears to be updated on the minute and on the hour. As news pops up, it is instantly updated. That is another one of the blog’s strengths: timeliness. No one wants stories that 39203920 other blogs have already posted. Two-thumbs up to you, Mashable, for always being on the ball.

         Most Mashable articles are overwhelmed with comments. I use the term overwhelmed in a positive sense because it is always good to see different perspectives on the same topic. Everyone have a different outlook, and sometimes reading someone else’s opinion will flip the switch in your own brain.

         For a long time I did not know about Mashable. Simply through typing in, “social media blogs” on Google did I end up finding it. However, Mashable is very active on Twitter and Facebook. This allows it’s readers to spread to other social media networks and share news to others. 

Gizmodo – The Gadget Guide

         Despite loving social media news, I also have a love for technology (since it is the medium we acquire most of our social media news through.) Gizmodo covers all sorts of stories. When the unreleased iPhone 4 was mysteriously found in a bar this past summer, Gizmodo was the first news source on it. I like being up to date on what type of gadgets and gizmos will be coming out, and how they can help me in the future. I find myself emotionally attached to my MacBookPro. Gizmodo covers so many different stories in relation to Apple that it always spark an interest in my Apple-addicted head.

         One of Gizmodo’s strengths is the depth of some of the articles. I cannot find any other blog that has such a deep focus on technology and gadgets. I also think the simplicity of Gizmodo (ironic, eh?) is something that makes its website appealing. The articles are easy to read and are not overwhelmed with too much technology jargon.

         In terms of updating, Gizmodo is on spot. Like Mashable, it is updated as news comes in and is never behind. As I mentioned earlier about the iPhone 4, this is a perfect demonstration of Gizmodo’s active awareness and timeliness.

         I consider Gizmodo the “sister blog” of Mashable. It also attracts lots of viewers and readers. With almost 200,000 Twitter followers, it is bringing in a wide-variety of comments and opinions. This is very important in keeping news updated and circulating.

         Like I said about Twitter, Gizmodo reaches a wide audience. On Facebook, the blog is nearing 200,000 “fans.” Again, this open communication through different social networks is important when it comes to acquiring news, information, and stories.

         Leave it to the technology/gadget blog to have all these categories covered. 

The Anti-Social Media – Satirical Blog

         The final blog I chose is a little bit out of my element. While I thouroughly enjoy all the social media news, my sarcastic side loves making fun of it. Listed as one of the top social media blogs of 2011, The Anti-Social Media takes a satirical approach to the ever-growing social media networks.

         This blog definitely plays to its strength through the use of funny videos, comments, pictures, and other art forms that mock social media. A lot of the videos and pictures I saw instantly cracked me up, thus hooking me as an active reader.

         Unlike the first two, this blog is not updated as frequenty. While it has new posts almost every single day, they are simple, minimal, and usually only once a day. Mashable and Gizmodo has hundreds of articles released daily. However, for this type of “small scale” blog, the minimal updates work well.

         In terms of community interaction and circulation, activity for this blog seems average. The stories are retweeted and posted on Facebook a decent amount of times. It does not compare to the mass-sharing of Mashable or Gizmodo, but again, it is fitting for this blog.

         Community interaction is definitely great on a site like this because people enjoy the dry, sarcastic humor. A lot of times this leads to sharing with friends and family because of the laughter it brings.