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December 2, 2008 7:50:23 PM CST

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Twitter Outgrows Narcissistic Phase

Posted Sep 4, 08 3:59 PM CDT in Opinion,  Technology 

(Newser) – Don't write off Twitter as a mere time-wasting self-promotion toy, David Chartier writes in Ars Technica. Users have adapted the microblogging tool to business, government, and even art, pushing 140-character posts beyond "what I had for lunch today." Some innovative Twitter accounts include Comcast, which tracks customer service issues, and an Arizona police department that reports important bulletins in real time.

Dell, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Amazon have also joined the "Twittersphere," while a group of authors is busy writing a "Twiller"—a fictional thriller composed one post at a time. And Chartier says it won't stop there: "As consumers, businesses, and even government bodies begin to experiment with Twitter … it becomes clear that the service is here to stay."

Source Ars Technica

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Businesses like Comcast are turning to Twitter to connect with customers online.   (©MikeSchinkel)
Twitter users have adapted the microblogging tool to business, government, and even art, pushing 140-character posts beyond "what I had for lunch today."   (©magerleagues)
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It may be tough to fire off an elevator pitch of what Twitter actually is or how it works, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone from turning it into something useful. - David Chartier, Ars Technica

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social networking • technology • Comcast • Web 2.0 • Twitter • Business trends


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