Life Moves Too Fast

1000 Updates on Twitter

So as of this writing I have reached 1000 updates on the social-micro-blogging platform. For the casual user, I would say this is either a testament to my pathetic misuse of banter or just that I really do have a lot to say on a whim. Nevertheless, we shall celebrate, yes?

I joined Twitter in March of 2007, but only became a regular user in December. I blogged earlier about whether the platform had ‘jumped the shark’, but clearly there are still plenty of people still flocking to its graces. I enjoy Twitter simply because I lack the time to effectively communicate my life in person. There, that is the real truth. Some people hide behind their Twitter moniker or just ‘retweet’ news. Others do nothing but complain about how much they hate their jobs. I just like to share tidbits about my day and encounters (and feelings), so thanks for tuning in. In 9 months, I guess I’ve had 1000 opportunities to do so. Go me.

So, how do you use Twitter?

Has Twitter jumped the shark?

Go to Google News and search for Twitter and you will find over 3200 articles. The good news, most are positive reports on the way the social platform has changed collaborative communication on the Web. Lately, however, Twitter has been suffering a meltdown. The good news is they are keeping us informed and being honest about their infrastructure handicaps and what they are doing to fix it. But is it all too late?

Twitter has been around since 2006, but got its kick start at SXSW 2007. Anybody who is anybody got hip to the ability to share their comings and goings in real time. Originally targeted to the mobile messaging market, it quickly took foot everywhere. And that is what some say is causing some of their pains. Some labeled this form of instant messaging a little too voyeuristic for its own good. Others embraced it as the newest channel for news and stories from the interwebs. Hundreds of would-be developers have tapped into Twitter’s API and built a slew of services, from integrated posting clients to tools for running metrics on your tweets. Businesses and journalists are using it as a communication tool. Whatever you think about it, clearly this form of collaboration has changed the way we communicate with our friends online.

Over the past few days, Twitter itself is abuzz with talk of Plurk and Pownce. Plurk seems like the new kid on the block, wooing away twitterati at the rate of a fire sale. It, too, is suffering a bit of the reliability bug, however. Pownce has been on the scene about as long as Twitter but with a little less visibility. That is quickly changing. And FriendFeed has even been touted as the new Twitter, and gaining ground. All in all, someplace will need to absorb the friends-lounge that Twitter has become. I hope that that hangout will continue to be our old friend Twitter.

What Twitter needs now is to stay the course. Users will stick by the Twitter team if they continue to provide ample, trusting communication. We’ve all come to love this little venue to share our life to friends, and strangers, and will stick by the old friend in time of need. What Twitter needs to do, however, is communicate clear plans to how it will improve or risk loosing it’s true supporters to any of the competitors named above. Many sites and tools have ended up in the deadpool because of infrastructure issues, and many more jumped the shark early in their life. Please, Twitter, keep it going.

For what it is worth, you can find me on Twitter here, Plurk here and Pownce here. I’m spreading mah oats, just in case.