There’s a big difference between how Twitter is currently used versus its original stated intentions. It’s clear that a lot of folks don’t understand the shift that has taken place, and they’re missing out on the real value presented by Twitter.
To illustrate the shift, let me share some of the feedback we’ve gotten on a new product that GamerDNA launched just over a week ago: TweetMyGaming.com. It’s an awesome way to see real-time tweets about games on Twitter. We’re thinking of it as the “games channel” for the Twitter universe, and soon we’ll be rolling out even more functionality which will reinforce that.
The immediate feedback from the Twitter community was electric–most people loved it. For example:
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muckp: @TweetMyGaming is going to restart my interest in gaming and save me money from buying crappy games. #hunch
- djWHEAT: @TweetMyGaming is pretty awesome. Watching the Real-Time Feed is mesmerizing. Saw some chick asking for a Wii Fit review to lose weight!
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matthewpruitt: RT @EAmobile: Have you guys checked out http://tweetmygaming.com yet? Awesome site. It’s a Real time feed of VG convos happening on Twitter!
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Sk1t3: Just got addicted to tweetmygaming.
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ghowley: Wow. tweetmygaming.com is pretty cool.
- “I still think twitter is incredibly stupid, how self absorbed do you have to be to think that people actually care what you are doing right that second” — commenter on Destructoid
- “Tell me I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand the fascination with Twitter, specifically the infatuation the media seems to have with it. From what I gather, Twitter is just basically a social networking status updater (a la Facebook’s status updates) just without anything else” — commenter on Joystiq
- The emergence of cool applications of Twitter’s API (aside from TweetMyGaming, this ranges as broadly as desktop applications like Twhirl to companies like Summize, which was acquired by Twitter and became search.twitter.com);
- The shift away from the use of Twitter as a pure status-update tool to something that’s much more conversational. The latter took place once twitter introduced “replies” (using the @ sign in Twitter posts) which forever changed the way people interact on Twitter. Today, it’s much closer to a public messaging system that can be either asynchronous — or as close to real-time as you want.
The bottom line: if you remember Twitter when it first came out, and still think of it as a status-update tool–then you’re missing out on the innovation that’s happening here. Give it another look. If so, you might join some of these other commenters from the publicity surrounding TweetMyGaming:
- “I hated twitter when it came about but I’m a changed man now. I sign up to shit I want news on like Man United, Dtoid, Total Film, bands I like and it keeps me up to date on my mobile when I’m at work or whatever.”" — Kris S from Destructoid
- “Finally, something useful on Twitter!!” — ArchiGamer on Joystiq
- “Sure, there’s plenty of shit on Twitter that’s totally inane. Here’s the key, though: that’s true of any communication tool. The arguments against Twitter are absolutely the same things people said about blogs when they were novel; “Well, who cares what Joe Average thinks?” The answer is the same: probably not many people. But for content providers you already find interesting, it’s just a very fast real-time communication tool.” — eakolb on Kotaku
- “wow. That’s pretty strange…I just joined the dark side and signed up for a twitter account this morning
” — kobeashi on Kotaku
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
TweetMyGaming was one of your best idea!
Twitter is addictive. >_>
Nice post, dude.
P.S.: 140 characters FTW.
Good post – I’ve noticed a similar shift in ‘tude.
Great article, I’m going to forward this to my Facebook friends who don’t quite understand why I’ve moved on to Twitter. I understand where people who don’t “get it” are coming from – I thought the concept of tweeting took too much dedication. I only joined the Twitter bandwagon 2 weeks ago, and so far it’s nothing what I initially expected (it’s better).
“However, if you go outside Twitter–to the blogs and articles (primarily in the videogame press) you’ll find that there are always commenters such as the following…”
I think some people are just looking for different things. Some gamers enjoy reviews and features with lots of content – especially, if the aforementioned commenters are reading sites/blogs such as IGN, Joystiq, etc. Twitter just doesn’t provide that level of content for them. Seeing a random fellow gamer tweet, “This game is sweet!” is much different (and possibly much less useful) than a gaming journalist composing a five-page spread reviewing a particular title. I agree with you in many ways but also see the other side of the equation, as well. Gamers – your primary audience – having different views/tastes in more than just genres.
Its the whole on-line text message idea that’s confused a lot of people. Personally, I only use the main tweet, @ replies and DM’s, not the feeds (not found one worth following, but haven’t really looked at what’s available). Many people once on-line prefer to speak out, at great length, unrestricted my character count spending paragraphs saying very little.
A text message on a mobile phone is short, sharp and to the point, so why can’t on-line users do the same? That’s the essential idea for Twitter, say what you mean, be precise. Lets face it, if most women did the same when they meet people they know is passing on the street (especially if they have a man carrying their shopping) and restricted what they said to 140 characters, we’d all be happier.
Forums and chat rooms have been around for a while now, they are fine for day to day bitch talking, slap downs and general talking of shite, as well at the purpose they where intended for (I.E. Sharing of useful information amongst a group). If you want to cram in a lot of information, pictures and whatnot in one large informative post, then Twitter is not the place for it, we can all agree.
But the Hardcore message board users will badmouth it and say “I don’t see the point”… because the concept is quite beyond them. Take me for example, I follow Web Artists, Writers, a few Artist from Marvel comics (who I chat too on occasion), a few friends and a collection of random individuals who actually have something interesting to say. Under normal circumstances, I’d have to be a member of 9 message boards and 4 private networks in order to keep up to date.
And too be perfectly honest, who has the time?
Hence Twitter, your one stop shop for quick and easy updates to the people you give a damn about. Short, sharp replies without the hassle, so easy and simple anyone could do it. Convenience on a pale blue website, who can argue with it?
Twitter is primarily a marketing tool though. It’s amazing for marketers and people trying to push something out to the world. For the ordinary person, though, I don’t see much benefit. I get dozens of hits to my twitter from marketing whores who are following everyone they can find just in the hopes of getting people to follow them while they promote some product.
@Anthony I don’t think it’s just that people are unsatisfied with the conversational depth on Twitter–I think many of these people don’t realize that conversation is even taking place.
@Binky In some ways, I think that Twitter aggregates all those conversations, and helps spin you back out to the forums/blogs/etc. where the detailed information exists.
@Svenn Marketing is an application of Twitter, just like blogs are. I don’t think it’s “primarily” for marketing. Twitter helps you sample information about the people you’re interested in–and engage them in conversation.
The main problem for me is sifting through the drek. Let’s say I follow a book agent. We have meaningful conversations regarding the publishing business.
But most of the larger publishing houses do NOT engage in conversation with me, they rather just post updates. If they DID, they might be surprised at what they would find out what actually impresses me or what turns me off about books, authors and publishing in general.
Yes, tweetmygaming.com is valuable to many but only if the game mentioned is picked up. Would a new indie trend actually be noticed if the publisher or game is not in the GamerDNA data base?
tweetmygaming.com is a great start, but now how to make it better?
You better believe I’ll be re-tweeting this.
In my opinion Twitter has evolved into the greatest way to spread information online. I have read many articles this week saying twitter’s time has passed, Twitter’s traffic has plateaued they’re through etc…
People forget that only 1 in 5 gen y’ers use Twitter, but overall they represent the largest demographic on social networks. Just wait until they start “getting it”. Then Twitter will really explode…
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next several months, developers are having a field day with this.