By Mark Evans
Don’t get me wrong, I love Twitter as a way to share and consume information but I’m tired of the coverage lavished on it as a revolutionary entity.
The latest breathless article appeared in The Toronto Star recently in which the author, Antonia Zerbisias, talked about how Twitter was used during the G20 meetings, and how a digital divide is being created between people who get their news via Twitter, and those who receive it using traditional media sources.
It’s yet another example of Twitter getting far more credit than it really deserves. Yes, Twitter is an exciting new communication tool but the praise being bestowed on it as a “game breaker” is unjustified.
It’s not just political coverage that is getting people excited about Twitter. It’s healthcare, entertainment, sports, and business. As a long-time Twitter user, it’s strange to see Twitter hailed as such a breakthrough given the tremendous technology advances that have happened in recent years.
The fascination with Twitter may have to do with how it is rapidly emerging as more than just a niche service. With more than 100 million users, Twitter is big enough that it doesn’t draw a lot of blank stares from people unaware of it. That said, it’s still a new and shiny toy for those just starting to get on the Twitter bandwagon. This explains articles that gush over how much it has changed the world as we know it.
Twitter is a valuable tool for personal and professional reasons but, come on, it’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread. While I don’t have Twitter Fatigue, I am tired of seeing so much adoration for it.
Originally published on markevanstech.com.
