July 1st, 2009
by Pamela Sherman
Communication technology, the good, the bad, the inane… and the politically active!?
Often, when new communication technologies surface, the most inane and silly uses come rushing out of the gates first. A lot of talk and controversy also tends to swirl around such technologies.
For a little history, you might be surprised to know there were some people who were more than annoyed by the invention of the TELEPHONE. Even Robert Luis Stevenson wrote a letter complaining about “the wisdom of admitting ‘this interesting instrument’…into our bed and board… bleating like a deserted infant.” And, today with mobile phones and devises available everywhere, many complain of “an endless stream of phone calls about insignificant nonsense.”
I always tell entrepreneurial clients and friends that we live in a giant “COMMUNICATIONS SMORGASBORD” with endless options and choices. It’s an unparalleled new challenge as well as opportunity. (Hmmm… I wrote about this particular topic in an earlier blog… helping entrepreneurs take “COMMTROL” -communications + control.)
For a popular technology topic today, let’s discuss Twitter (the micro-blog service). I say IT’S A TOOL with good and bad applications. It’s whatever you want it to be! And now, we are beginning to see more widespread and MEANINGFUL applications…
Case in point: TWITTER IN IRAN.
Twitter becomes a worldwide and local news tool for an exiled Iranian community, also helping them to rally political activism and provide life-saving saftey warnings.
Most of the world has learned about what’s happening in Iran with a massive uprising over a highly questionable election result. This world awareness and community activism is happening in no small measure with the support of Twitter. Twitter, being a difficult to censor technology, has been a god-send for individuals to reach out and personally share their stories in the midst of the riots and civil unrest. (The government had shut down and censored many internet services and even arrested bloggers) As the events unfolded before them, pictures and text of the events were sent to the outside world through Twitter. Twitter also helped the exiled community to rally local support, as well as deliver critical news and warnings about life-threatening dangers among them.
So… how silly is Twitter now?! (I think not)
This technology is now playing a part in political activism, in democratizing and saving people’s lives!
It’s also brought attention to the rest of the world including the news media who is now trying to deal with new issues of validating these news sources. The significance is amazing.
What might this mean for the government, civil uprisings, or natural disasters? How might this technology, or others like it, contribute to solving major issues and events? -Or creating more dangers in the wrong hands?
What do you think? …And, how might you use Twitter for more meaningful applications?
Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:
- Social Media Networking: What Does Ashton Kutcher’s Twitter-Triumph Over CNN Mean For Your Business?
- Business & Social Networking: Our Little ‘Twitter-Tweeter’ is Sprouting Big Business Wings!
- Gather Round the Water Cooler – Twitter
- Twitter Trailblazers: The “Kogi Effect” and Other Social Media Success Stories
sam
(July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 am)
I actually think twitter is quite useful, not only as a communication device but as a Digital Internet Marketing stream that makes businesses more profitable.
Pamela Sherman
(July 1st, 2009 at 9:22 pm)
Thanks for you comment Sam.
I agree –business promotion is also another great use. At WMT also offer \Twittorials\ on how to boost your business using Twitter. Balance with authentic value is key. (and that value can come in an array of forms)
Pamela
Michele Sandlin
(July 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm)
As with everything in life, BALANCE is the key in whether or not Twitter will become a meaningful communication vehicle. Using Twitter for posting inane comments is a waste of everyone’s time, but using it as a way to promote and share important information, has merit – most significantly with its international application.
I still believe that face to face communication, and the Art of Conversation, is suffering due to the introduction of things like Twitter. It’s a factor of time…the amount of time in a day hasn’t changed, but the amount of time we spend on the computer, or a cell phone texting, or on Twitter has increased significantly! Those methods of communication compete with face to face time. Once again I go back to BALANCE.
I have launched a site and a concept that I hope will help people re-engage with one another, easily. Check out http://www.open2conversation.com and see what I am TALKING about!..
Pamela Sherman
(July 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm)
Michele,
So glad you re-posted here (beyond the facebook link) Thanks for sharing your thoughts in this forum!!!!
Yes, I agree no technology should take the place of quality face-to-face conversations and relationship building. It will always be the core for dynamic human interaction and relationship building… the rest should be support tools — However, it’s just too often they become distractions. Sounds like a valuable concept you’ve engaged in to help others “engage”. Love it!
-p
Web Marketing Therapy » Blog Archive » Business & Social Networking: Our Little ‘Twitter-Tweeter’ is Sprouting Big Business Wings!
(April 18th, 2010 at 3:45 pm)
[...] Politics. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign successfully used Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks regularly about the power of e-diplomacy, particularly in places where the mass media are repressed. Just look at the role Twitter played in Iran’s Uprising. [...]