The website that made the hashtag an ‘in thing’, Twitter is currently in the process of luring every internet user into creating accounts. Back in the day where Bebo reeled in the Myspace users and Facebook rendering Bebo-love irrelevant, Twitter seems to be following suit and there’s no sign of its relentless efforts slowing anytime soon. Twitter allows social networkers – for the first time – to follow celebrities, making them all that more accessible. I change my mind about Twitter every day so here’s my two cents about this phenomenon.
Con: #thingsthatgetmeupset was trending not ten minutes ago, hence why I’m in the mind-set to compare Twitter to the Big Brother diary room (which is not a compliment). People formerly lamented some Facebook users for statuses such as: “Can’t wait 2 see all the ladies 2nyt” and “OMG, never drinking again”, however Twitter ENCOURAGES these statuses with the trending feature. Now trending is #HappyBdayHarryFromAustralia – Harry Styles from One Direction. Exactly. I’ll admit to falling victim to the fondness to help phrases trend on Twitter, which is an awful habit; I’d like to use Twitter to haver away without being bothered at the lack of ‘likes’ that Facebook has to offer.
Con: The combination of television and Twitter has driven me – and more than likely you – up the wall. You can’t watch a single live show without the presenter interrupting the show to say “if you’re online, make sure you use Twitter and mention #BawbagShow”. I really don’t care enough to take the time out of watching a TV show to mention the show I’m currently watching on Twitter so that people following me know I’m watching the show. Linked in with this is the introduction of celebrity Tweeters and how they ‘grind my gears’. 8,831,212 people are following Nicki Minaj. I don’t understand it. I just don’t understand. Her last Tweet: “Hi barbz. Stupid Hoe's on MTV JAMS awl zay bew bew! :P”. 8,831,212 people had that Tweet appear on their home page. What happened? The most worrying thing about this is that kids will run to their friends at school and gossip about how right Minaj’s Tweet was. In what situation at any time ever would anyone feel possessed to even consider Nicki Minaj as a reliable source of entertainment gossip? We already have *shudder* Perez Hilton for that, why would anyone think “I’ve got a stupendous idea, let’s go on Twitter and attempt to translate gossip”? Which leads me to my next condensed rant;
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| 8,831,212 people follow this woman. I'll let that sink in. |
Con: Learn to type in English Twitter users. Ignore celebrities that think they’re too ‘cool’ to type in a language over a billion people can fluently speak. Shows like Jersey Shore have characters that speak in abbreviations, which is fine; it makes good TV, but if you’re a celebrity, you’re a role model to at least someone. Yes, you too Nicki. You want to be a role model? Don’t drag your fans away from education. I don’t mind the occasional “PMSL” or “LMAO”, but please don’t overuse them. That’s what English is for.
Pro: I’ve been able to contact my Uncle far easier on Twitter than anything else and we’re speaking more regularly now, despite his hectic schedule.
Con: I realise that this blog was supposed to be a “pros and cons” piece but the more I type, the more I realise I don’t care for Twitter. The only reason I still update my Tweets is because Strathclyde University lecturers tell you that Twitter will benefit your way of learning. I fail to see how. It’s the same reason I started up this half-neglected blog, however I’ll be judged more on here than on Twitter for mistakes and grammatical errors. Why can’t others use Blogspot (which has more hits than Twitter according to the Alexa ranking system)? I don’t see how reading irrelevance such as “Lesley doesn’t deserve him, should be me going to Fernando’s #TakeMeOut” will aid me in any way, shape or form.
In a nutshell, Twitter is merely an inconvenience. A catalyst used to destroy brain cells faster than Peter Andre documentary. I would say “please ignore Twitter” to all you blog readers, though that would be quite hypocritical of me; I have a Twitter tab open as I type. I dread the next website to take over the lives of most teenagers and students:
Birth, Myspace, Bebo, Facebook, Twitter, death.
Birth, Myspace, Bebo, Facebook, Twitter, death.
One can only wish.
