| Twitter is the new poster child for social media. Time | | | | has made it very popular especially for users who like |
| Magazine considered it to be the social media | | | | tweeting on the move. |
| application that will change our lives-in 140 characters | | | | Your Friends are There |
| or less. When Twitter started in 2006, it was only | | | | The tipping point for any social media service is |
| meant to be used by a closed team of developers. | | | | actually that point where the service is getting |
| But the 2007 SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas | | | | widespread acceptance from your friends. After that, |
| was considered to the tipping point of Twitter in terms | | | | there's no point in using other similar apps if you have |
| of user base and popularity. During the conference, the | | | | to invite friends all over again. For instance, are you |
| user base tripled in a span of a day. And it has been | | | | willing to sign up to each and every new microblogging |
| on the rise ever since. Some may wonder why | | | | service that someone recommends? Most probably |
| Twitter has become so popular. Here are five possible | | | | not. You're on Twitter already. Your friends are there |
| reasons why. | | | | already. Almost everyone who matters is already on |
| Simplicity | | | | Twitter. With this in mind, there is simply no incentive to |
| There are a handful of other microblogging services | | | | move elsewhere. |
| out there, such as Plurk, and even apps within | | | | Mainstream Acceptance |
| Facebook, that let people send out short status | | | | Twitter has made appearances in major traditional |
| messages. But the great thing about Twitter is that it's | | | | publications such as the New York Times and Time |
| so simple. It's like comparing the almost-sparse | | | | Magazine. It's not only because of the widespread use, |
| Google's search page to the cluttered interfaces of of | | | | but also because how Twitter has changed how |
| other engines like Yahoo and MSN. Twitter's own | | | | people consume and share information, much like how |
| interface doesn't give you much in terms of bells and | | | | full-fledged blogging did in 2005. For instance, Twitter |
| whistles in its basic form. If you're not too tech-savvy, | | | | was among the means that concerned citizens of Iran |
| it's easy enough to understand. You just input your | | | | spread the word about alleged election fraud in their |
| status or your message, and hit the update button, and | | | | most recent presidential elections. It doesn't mean that |
| you're done. The web interface for viewing your | | | | Twitter is replacing mainstream media in being a |
| friends' tweets is simple, as well-it's just a single | | | | reliable source of news, but it sure is becoming a good |
| reverse-chronologically ordered timeline of tweets. | | | | medium for transmitting raw information as it happens. |
| If you're the more tech-oriented, Twitter does offer | | | | Celebrities |
| advanced features, like searches, trends, and the like. | | | | Who doesn't love celebrities? People who are fond of |
| Third-party applications expand the functionality of the | | | | buying celebrity-oriented tabloids and magazines are |
| platform by adding multi-column views, trending | | | | sure to love Twitter because of the celebrities who |
| analysis and the like. But the basic functionality still | | | | have embraced the medium to reach out to the public. |
| remains. | | | | Reading updates from celebrity Twitter users almost |
| Desktop and Mobile Applications | | | | feels like being a paparazzo yourself. But this time, |
| Twitter lets you get into the service not only through | | | | there are not commentaries or editorials from |
| its web interface. Since it opened up its API, there | | | | columnists or celebrity writers. You get the latest from |
| have been dozens of third party applications that let | | | | the celebs themselves, whether they be actors, |
| you do just about anything. If you're the type who | | | | singers, politicians, or even internet celebrities. It makes |
| wants to see everything in one view, you can use | | | | them more human and real to the rest of us. |
| TweetDeck or Seesmic Desktop on your computer. If | | | | Granted, some of these celebrity Twitter accounts are |
| you prefer to tweet while on the go, you can use | | | | maintained by publicists and media agents, but you can |
| SMS, or one of the more popular mobile applications | | | | tell that a lot are updated by the owners themselves. |
| like Tweetie for the iPhone or Gravity for Symbian | | | | Twitter gives celebrities a voice that's surprisingly |
| phones. Giving users different ways of using Twitter | | | | genuine. |
