Twitter is one of those Web 2.0 sites that I am still trying to get my head around. The idea is overly simple. A user signs up and posts small “tweets” of >140 characters. It is very unique concept, but what is the point of it all? Some say it is to stay ‘connected’ to people while others have posted about its stalker potential. After using Twitter for only a few days, I must say that I am somewhere in the middle. I can see some potential benefits from running a Twitter page, but also some major disadvantages.

Advantages

Keeping an active twitter page and posting the information in your facebook or other social network allows your friends to feel included in your life without wasting time texting/calling you. This can help maintain relationships with people who would have otherwise written you off as a friend.

Posting your twitter feed on your blog gives users the feeling that you are human. Portraying this to readers can either help or hurt the reader. If you have an overall serious feel of your blog, leave twitter feeds out of your blog. However, if you want to give your opinions on something (like this blog) your twitter feed can provide some excellent background on you. This background can aid readers who would otherwise write off your opinion as a bias ranting.

Interviewing at companies for the past year has taught me many valuable lessons. The one main lesson I have learned is showing potential employers that you are active in a relavant community is crucial. It will never hurt you to have exposure to things like twitter and make posts relevant to the job your applying for. If your a developer, if you post tweets about programming or announcements of development news it shows your employer that you enjoy what you do instead of being a 9 to 5 programmer.

Disadvantages

Posting tweets usually posts personal information such as your location. This can be a problem of privacy and safety. Twitter has implemented privacy settings however if you are worried for your safety then do not post these kind of things on Twitter.

Waste of time. Yes time spent posting tweets is a overall waste of time. The majority of posts are pointless and could be left out. Avoid this by posting useful information instead of things like “out to dinner” and work toward things like “working on the next big thing”. Make your tweets worth the read.

 

These are just my opinions about Twitter and I am not sure if I will keep using the service. It definitely shows developers that any idea can become a hit, no matter how far fetched they seem. Congrats to Twitter for creating one of the most unique Web 2.0 services and inventing a market that previously did not exist. What are your opinions?