Light Within

Without Twitter, World Wide Web may be a lonely place. After desktop publishing and blogging, Twitter is another notable online phenomenon everyone seems to be enjoying.

What is a Twitter? Well, it depends on whom the question is asked. For millions of ordinary people with access to a computer and an Internet connection, Twitter is an easy way to self publish their thoughts, concerns, and feelings or a means of talking to each other and sharing whatever they want to. To some Twitter still is a place to answer simple question; What are you doing? Some others say it is a voice that is being heard in this din. Twitter is an outlet on so many levels for so many people and a real time media (it is not about something that happened yesterday rather it is about what is happening now). Dubbed as microblogging or moblogging, Twitter may be vanity site and a short cut to fame for many as Tweets are ego gratifying sometime. For e-marketers Twitter is a quick tool for building businesses and brands.

As per popular literature, Twitter is the microblogging platform that allows you to create a stream of very short posts (called "tweets) that others can follow and reply to. Their yet uncluttered site reads, “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” But what I see is that Twitter is much more than just a way to tell your friends about what you're doing.

Imagine, over 14 million users, who visited Twitter 99 million times last month (May 2009) to read posts tapped out with cell phones and computers. Individually, many of those 140-character “tweets” seem childish or immature but taken collectively, the stream of messages can turn Twitter into a surprisingly useful tool for solving problems and providing insights into the digital mood. By tapping into the world’s collective brain (call it a pulse of the online world), researchers of all kinds have found that if they make the effort to dig through the non serious looking comments, the live conversations offer an incisive glimpse into public opinion — and even help them shape it.

Twitter is a rapidly evolving Web phenomenon; changing every day. It has already came a long way since it was first invented. What used to be just a place where you could tell people "what you are doing", it is a place where you can meet and follow interesting people, companies or communities, where you can tap into the collective conscious of the world, where you can also take part in experiences or as I try to do, where you can ask for insights or subject of your interests. A great majority of Twitter users are silent observers who only listen (Internet statistics say only 10% produce tweets, and 90% listen).

In addition to contributing and connecting to others, Twitter is a place where you come to listen. You can even ask them if anyone got any ideas how to solve a problem or what people feel about a topic? I am amazed at the response I get whenever I ask a question or help; I often do to harvest fresh ideas on different subjects on hand .


Twitter now disseminate information, interpret them for us as per tweets writers’ perceptions and initiate debates. Surf some and one can finds tweets of any kind and type: subject oriented, complimenting or criticizing perspectives, incisive observations, or deeply personal lascivious thoughts and very intimate details of personal life (some give these details staying behind the walls of anonymity while some do it overtly and even solicit comments and call it freedom of choice). Early adopters of the twitter practices, who are in the middle of, and enjoying, an evolution of information technologies think that form of Tweets will keep changing over period as tools improve and technology matures.

It is not that only Tweets are changing. The trend is turning passive users into active surfers and writers. Tweets necessarily make people to read, analyze and write.

Though Twitter like the Internet itself is a global in nature and cannot be segregated or reviewed on the basis of geography yet while writing this I came across a tool called TweetMondo that gives the location of other Twitter users near you. Results will depend on the location you enter – whether it be a broad (Pakistan) or precise location (Lahore, Karachi). You can login to TweetMondo with your Twitter username and password you can enter your location in the (Where are you?) box. You can also select a location from the “Tweetcloud” located at the bottom of the page. Try! It is a real fun. Of cause, I tried to find Pakistan Twitter users. Local Twitter users are a whole new world out there. As anywhere else, Pakistan Twitter users offer a view of what is thought in public and discussed in private. Tweets here vent, flirt, point out stories and tell jokes. They also waffle, whine, or weasel. Some folk showcase their work with by lines of their own choosing or propagate a cause. Some users are producing surprisingly good qualities while some others are sloppy and direction less.

Pakistan Twitter landscape seem to be very innovative; oozing out with individualism and diversity. During my hunt, I have seen users announcing launch or a product and some whining ‘wish you were here with me.’
There are still some impediments, the most obvious being access to technologies, lack of purpose to reach out to the world and matters of ego and social background. What all one is willing to open to others? Tweets exchanges and email conversations with local Twitter users bloggers revealed some more reservations: People are afraid to speak up. Masteries of language, technical, or compositional skills are another set of barriers for those who do not have them. Muhammad Yaqoob, a famous Social Media advocate and a Twitter users says, "Though these days Twitter is as easy as signing in for email account and operating it yet those who are gifted with writing skills are often Web novice and those who are skilful Internet users have nothing much to say."

There are almost as many critics as there are enthusiasts of Twitter trends that is growing exponentially. But evidence is that Twitter has already become more than just a passing whim. Critics, however, say that this 'inconsequential chatter' has given rise to plagiarism of a different king and the whole thing is nothing but recycling. There is hardly anything original in tweets.

Some users just mark their presence; create an account, post initial entry and forget about it. A few Twitter users decide to dump their labor of love in cyber graveyard for good after some time due to variety of reason: Twitter as an activity ceases to have an importance in their lives, or they do not have enough to say it in their tweets. Tayyab Ilyas, an online journalist and a techie, "I started using Twitter because I have an opinion and I wanted to have a place where I could voice my views about things around. Moreover, everyone else in my circle was using Twitter. Writing is very daunting job sometimes. The stress of multiple updates every day became a distraction in my work and I left it after doing it for a few months."

Twitter users are a natural fit with each other and the fraternity is fast growing. Simple philosophy is this: "You mention me in your blog and I mention you in mine," and it goes on and on. Twitter users are keen to see what others are saying in their tweets so they keep up with as many as they can, especially those who are like minded. Confession: Well, I am found of seeing what others publish in their tweet that I do not know and who all are following me. I also try to see people who are behind tweets.

In general, tweets are interesting, thought provoking, and sometime utterly entertaining and fun. In fact, the ability for users to constantly update at Twitter makes them perfect forum for individuals to express themselves in so many creative ways. Twitter is an enriching experience on the World Wide Web for those who publish tweets as well as for those who lurk around and just read. My recommendation: Join the party; it is on round the clock. And look for me when you are there.

Updates: Twitter Resources



LogoTwitter is a free web app that lets you create Twitter-like logos with your own text. This app is completely free and you can download these logos to use them any where you want. It provides you with several logo customization options, like you can change the colour of border, text and background, size of logo and you can even get the logo in transparent background. It’s a very simple tool to create logos of your Twitter IDs in Twitter style.

What else, you should be following me here. No?