Web Developers

Twitter Needs A Reality Check

Posted by on Dec 28, 2009 | 4 Comments

There should be an image here!Twitter, like MySpace or Facebook, is toy-like. It does not provide clear, definable value to the world it lives in. Yes, Twitter is able generate a tidy profit thanks to the rivalry between Bing and Google. Clearly, we should be dancing in the streets over this (not).

And like MySpace and likely someday, Facebook, Twitter will find itself being left behind for the next “big thing.” MySpace likely thought that it could not lose. Now you cannot bribe people to sign up if you tried.

No, I would agree that Twitter is clearly turning a profit, but fame is fleeting and Twitter’s could easily fizzle out if it is not careful. I’d like to see Twitter taking a more Facebook approach to outreaching with developers, perhaps build up something of value besides its API and good intentions.

  • http://socialmediacrashsite.blogspot.com/ Tom Owens

    An interesting idea. Too bad it wasn’t fleshed out more.

  • http://qova00.wordpress.com/ qova

    My question is what is the solution to Twitter not becoming like FB and Myspace, or are these tools all bound to be casualties of the social media tools evolution as we “evolve” on some new level of information exchange?

  • Kevin

    The problem lies not the site/concept itself – but the fact that it HAS become as big as it currently is (and continues to be).

    What was supposed to be something useful for a small group of individuals – those who have a LEGITIMATE (and timely) need to post – has been flooded by the masses (and the mindless chatter/BS that goes along with them)!

    For every reporter out in the field someplace (think of those tweeting about the goings on in Iran, despite a media blackout) – there are THOUSANDS of posts (if not more!)about what people are eating/wearing/thinking…

    The Sheeple now keep the site afloat (and in the black) – and being as fickle as they are, will also end up killing it once the next “shiny new toy” comes along.

    It’s too bad though – there WAS so much potential for somthing useful, until it became “trendy”.

    Perhaps there IS a lesson in all of this (one learned too late for Twitter) – keep the site “pure” (as in focused on whatever it is you are doing), rather than trying to make a bunch of $$$ (and/or “take over the world”) ;) ;)

  • Connor Bryant

    Very true. Thanks for posting.