INTRODUCTION
Social computing practices offer pertinent insights into social and technological interactions, in addition to the behaviors of users interrelated within these forums. They allude to a sense of connectivity on a global scale, with the promise of omnipresent users no longer divided by cultural boundaries. Users engaging with social software are in many instances, able to sustain relationships with others in diverse geographical and social contexts. Of genuine interest is how and why these connections are established, in addition to understanding the motives in maintaining these interactions. Also of precedence are the popularity of particular users and the rationale behind their social stardom. In a cultural environment heavily influenced by fame and the notion of celebrity, how much does the realm of social computing reflect this, and who are the online stars?
BACKGROUND
Within the current spectrum of social computing are a multitude of microblogging systems allowing users to broadcast short instant messages or micromedia articles featuring image and audio clips. While other social networking tools including Facebook and Bebo have now also incorporated status update services, Twitter is perhaps the most notable of these systems.
Since its inception in 2006, Twitter has reached great heights and become one of the most widely used social networking devices attracting over six million users to date[1]. “In its short history, Twitter has become an important marketing tool for celebrities, politicians and businesses, promising a level of intimacy never before approached online, as well as giving the public the ability to speak directly to people and institutions once comfortably on a pedestal[2].”
Free and readily accessible via the website or with mobile technology, Twitter invites users to “Tweet” by responding to the question “What are you doing?” and in doing so launches them into the “Twitter-sphere” where the replies of others are constantly streamed.
FOCUS
This investigation examines prominent users of social computing networks through a personal reflection of Twitter’s users and its content. Of consideration are the motives of both followers and the followed, with themes of voyeurism and connectivity of key importance. Posed are questions regarding the attraction to prolific posters, known in this instance as Twitter-lebrities, and how these users obtained such status.
REFLECTION
Prior to joining Twitter and becoming a Tweeter, if albeit a rather lax one, I had been mildly aware of the social scene created by its supporters. I knew of others who used it religiously and were dazzled by the results, but believing it required constant updates and, having owned a Facebook account for sometime without ever refreshing my status, I felt that Twitter was perhaps not for me. And then I stepped into the Twitter-sphere…
Strangely enough, my interest in Twitter did not lie with Tweeting. Perhaps it was my somewhat reserved nature, but the idea of publishing intimate details of my life filled me with a sense of dread. I feared that my accounts aided no real social contributions, and that the question of what I was doing was bound to be met with mediocre and staged responses. Broadcasting the contents of my breakfast or rehashing whimsical quips would never be within my grasp. Instead, occasional mundane anecdotes would be the sum total of my contributions to the world of Twitter. To date I have made just eighteen of these.
My Twitter experience began quite humbly by testing the premise of my updates. It was not until I became ill that I truly began to explore the scope that Twitter had to offer. Housebound for the week, I began to seek out familiar faces, and when confronted with a lack of these, I sought more popular figures. I soon discovered the likes of Stephen Fry, David Bowie, Martha Stewart and Russell Brand among others. Most enticing about this exercise was the ability to follow others and gain insight into lives far more interesting than my own.
Within a short space of time I learned that Martha (we were on a first name basis by this stage), was preparing lamb and artichokes for her Easter menu, and that Stephen’s extensive trek around the continents had left him suffering from a rather bad case of jet lag. Perhaps luckily for Stephen, David, Martha, Russell and the others, friendship and followers never have to be reciprocated on Twitter. Unlike Facebook, I can search and follow anyone with a public profile without seeking permission. In this sense, Twitter accommodates for a type of one-way social interaction, meaning that all of these folk remained blissfully unaware of my failed attempts to keep the globe informed of my whereabouts.
If it were anywhere other than within a digital realm, this behavior might seem a little stalker-like, and a restraining order would probably ensue. Given the context of these interactions however, this conduct is perhaps better described as virtual voyeurism, offering a chance to peek into the workings of the minds, or mindlessness in some cases, of those being followed. And whilst voyeurism implies that the viewer is gaining access without knowledge or consent, Twitter legitimizes this desire to pry into the lives of others with its’ public forum. From this perspective, I found that Twitter acted as my own personal news feed - one that is not shaped by tragedy and destruction, but by human transponders. And for me, this is at least part of the universal fascination with Twitter, and gave clue to the totality and rise of the Twitter-lebrity.
New found Twitter fame for those now referred to as Twitter-lebrities, seems to be largely based on large volumes of postings and large numbers of followers. The rationale it would seem is one of quantity not quality. Britney Spears is perhaps the best example of this. Constantly appearing in Twitter’s most followed list[3], her updates are always featured in the third person and detail what can only be described as trivial information about her current tour locations and links to the sales department of her website. The attraction to Britney’s lackluster postings is questionable, as too is the ever-growing popularity of so many others prone to proclaiming such trivialities. Within the Twitter-sphere it would seem, there are no limits on frivolity. Perhaps we find comfort the consistent constant droll of information, or maybe it is the chance at some kind of connectivity with those so distant from us that provides the true attraction to the Twitter-lebrity and the legacy they leave behind.
CONCLUSION
As we locate ourselves along the linear narrative of history, Twitter draws our attentions to the present, with an almost obsessive microscopic accuracy. Streams of information enter our consciousness on an incessant basis, and regardless of the apparent myopic and somewhat vapid nature of these postings, we are drawn to this engagement.
The Twitter-lebrity offers many a chance to forge relationships and partake in conversations that are altogether different to those maintained outside the Twitter-sphere[6]. It is a chance to connect with anyone, anywhere in the world regardless of social status or cultural taboo. And it is this desire for connectivity that has made the concept of the Twitter-lebrity so appealing[4]. Requiring little more than a high frequency of updates, Twitter stardom can be achieved by all and any. It is challenged only in the notion that Twitter-lebrities are required to maintain an existence that can sustain the attention of others, and find the time to Tweet about it. As surmised by Abraham in his writings on becoming an overnight Twitter success: “Growing a social media profile is like growing a coral reef: after seeding the reef, there are so many things that need to happen before a reef blooms. There are many things that can aid the reef: safety, cleanliness, warmth, nutrients, oxygenation, however, the most important things are time and commitment[5].”
Finding said time and commitment is perhaps where the greatest challenge prevails. Maintaining such a profile is indeed a permanent occupation, as witnessed by the awakening of positions for Twitter Ghosts. Described by Cohen[7] and Frommer[8] as recession proof roles, this new means of employment promises that true Twitter-lebrities no longer have to find the time to write about their own fantastical lives, but can pay someone else to do it. And therein lies one of the shortcuts in reaching Twitter stardom: Outsourcing – be it for talent, time or the desire to have someone else constantly Tweeting about you.
REFERENCES
[2] The New York Times. (2009). Twitter. [Online]. Available: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/twitter/index.html?8qa&scp=1-spot&sq=&st=nyt.
[3] Twitterholic. (2009). Top 100 Twitterholics Based on Followers. [Online]. Available: http://twitterholic.com/.
[4] R. W. Lucky, "To Twitter Or Not To Twitter? - [reflections]," Spectrum, IEEE, vol. 46, pp. 22-22, 2009.
[5] C. Abraham. (2008). How To Become An Overnight Twitter Celebrity. [Online]. Available: http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/07/how-to-become-am-overnight-twitter-celebrity/#more-5322.
[6] B. Solis. (2009). The Ties That Bind Us: Visualizing Relationships on Twitter and Social Networks. PR 2.0: The Future of Media and Communication Starts Here [Online]. Available: http://www.briansolis.com/
[7] N. Cohen. (2009). When Stars Twitter, A Ghost May Be Lurking. The New York Times [Online]. Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/technology/internet/27twitter.html?_r=2.
[8] D. Frommer. (2009). Celebrity Twitter Ghost Writer: Hot Job For The Recession. [Online]. Available: http://www.businessinsider.com/celebrity-twitter-ghost-writer-hot-job-for-the-recession-2009-3.
10 comments:
Very well written pieces of work!
The idea of voyeurism is interesting I think. It is a scary thought of the world seeing me without me seeing them.
I often get spam-like twitters following me (whom I block mostly). A little too scary I'd say.
Here's the biggest benefit I had with regards to daily routines being posted by my peers. Most of the people I follow on Twitter are few thousand miles away. Due to their regular updates, however, I feel near. I feel like I still am involved and know a little about their lives.
And I bet Britney has never used Twitter before. Which is a complete ripoff. They have fan sites for news updates.
That is right, in twitter we can also become a stalker or vice versa. The idea to ask permission when we want to follow somebody i think is important because it could make a barrier to their private life.
Maybe we cannot feel anything when somebody stalking on us virtually, but it feels uncomfortable when somebody stalking on us in the real world.
a good example of the flaw in twitter which is the way user follow other user without permission. in my opinion being stalker by other is just wrong in every aspect.
I have to say that I don't believe that voyerism on Twitter is a major issue, especially for already popular users.
Often the popular users are already in a situation where their daily lives are public knowledge (e.g. Brittany Spears was splashed all over the media for a time not long ago). Given that it is largely acceptable for people to be overly interested in the lives of celebraties the use of Twitter seems merely a transfer of methods and mediums, i.e. from third party one way interaction of magazines etc. to first person interaction multidirectional interaction.
Now by the very fact that Twitter actually promotes multidirectional interaction, it could be said that it in effect helps to reduce voyerism.
Well written. I found the idea of Twitter Ghosts very interesting. It just shows you how widespread Twitter is and how valuable it is as a marketing tool. Good use of sources.
Agree with Dineth. I also like the voyeurism idea. We can see in many articles that many users of social-network websites have been became a victim of predator. They threat their victims by using their personal information and after that they were asked to give their naked pictures. It is horrible to think the way those predator threat their victims.
I agree that the nature of how Twitter works can aid, if not, be a powerful tool for stalker-like behaviour.
Giving users the option of making their profiles private does help but you be able to achieve that celebrity status.
I guess that's the price you pay for stardom.. a multitude of stalkers now equipped with a powerful tool.
In the past some bloggers like Perez Hilton gain fame through his insights, and now it is made easier through twitter as microblogger tool.
It also gives people a chance to follow closely famous personal whom is of concern to them and check out what is happening in their lives, like President Obama.
Cyber stalking and online popularity is between a thin line of perception to different people.
Lastly, one can try to avoid others knowing too much about their lives by giving post that are ambiguious to other but specific to some, like " skull is no longer relived"?
Voyeurism is a really interesting way to looking at this. In the past, I use to check for updates on my favourite bands or celebrity's blogs religiously for updates and posting but now with twitter I am able to follow them and get similar updates to a blog.
Microblogging not only brings me closer to such idols but even to friends and families mile away. I still feel like I'm part of their lives even when I'm no where around them.
Really enjoyable posting to read.
I agree with the issues of Twitter voyeurism, however I think that a site like Twitter would also fail to function in the capacity it currently does without them. Overall a great reflection.
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