Entertainment | 03/28/2009 5:00 am

Is Twitter Ruining Society? (Video)

By Molly Wood

Editor’s Note: Molly Wood is an executive editor and on-camera personality at CNETTV.com. Molly hosts the weekly Buzz Report video blog, a sort of "Daily Show" for tech news, and co-hosts the hilarious "Gadgettes" podcast, which proves that girls can (and should!) be geeks, too.

It seems like everyone has recently discovered Twitter, the micro-blogging service that lets you post a near-constant (if you wish) stream of consciousness for the world or your select group of followers to see.

There’s a lot to like about Twitter, and I, for one, am among the addicted (follow me or read my posts here!). Why? It’s a quick and easy way to express a thought and, usually, get some immediate feedback and conversation. Twitter gives you the ability to prattle on about your day, set down your bon mots, share links with the world or post photos of your dinner, all while feeling assured that the people who are "following" your posts really care! Because, surely, at least one of your friends cares, even if the rest are wondering why you’re posting photos of chicken chow mein. It’s a fun, ongoing conversation, and yes, it definitely feeds the ego a bit.

However, as so often happens when a brand-new concept goes mainstream quickly, the Twitter backlash is now beginning. People can’t seem to stop themselves from using Twitter inappropriately, as in the case of jurors tweeting from inside trials, or pro basketball players tweeting during halftime. Still others are finding ways to make a good thing look ridiculous by trying too hard to capture the cool dragon by the tail and seem cool by extension, and then, of course, there’s a growing concern that Twitter will turn us into gibbering idiots who’ve lost the thread of common sense due to our growing Twitter addictions. What’s the real truth about Twitter?

I think I have a theory, and it’s in this week’s Buzz Report, along with a super-sexy new laptop and a look inside the next version of the iPhone software. Enjoy!

Read more about: CNET, Molly Wood, Science, Technology, Twitter, Video

34 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I don’t like blogs or twitter. The 2 words mentioned in the article sum up society: gibbering idiots. There are no real conversations out there…I mean face to face. We have become a society that relies on emails, text msgs, and mindnumbingly stupid blogs that belong to strangers we will never meet in Real Life. People are running their entire lives through a cell phone or computer, and have no real, substantial relationships anymore. It’s to the point that break ups are done via text message or emails. That’s pathetic. No wonder this country is overweight and unmotivated…we have ignored reality and traded it in for a computer generated life of "yada yada yada". Very sad.

By Debbie Torelli on 03/28/2009 8:52 am

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… very sad … but then why are you reading and posting your opinion in stories like this ?

By Rafael Perez on 03/28/2009 11:31 am

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In Debbie’s defense, I think this site is more like a conversation about topics, while Twitter and many personal blogs are more like what Chris Glass describes below: nonstop chatter about ourselves. It’s not about the technology itself; it’s how you use it and what that says about you.

By Lila Kuh on 03/29/2009 9:56 am

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i don’t twitter and don’t have a desire to. i don’t dislike it by any means. but it certainly feeds our human need to feel like the most important person on the planet at all times. hilarious.

By Chrome Toe on 03/28/2009 10:35 am

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Chrome,

I agree. Talk about feeding into egos. We are self absorbed as it is, but do those twittering fools REALLY think anyone cares when they have a headache, or decided to buy the blue shirt instead of the red? I can’t imagine this progressing further than a quick fad, but then, who cares what I think? Except myself. Ha

By Dee T on 03/29/2009 5:15 pm

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Actually there are ways to find real gems. For example, the CEO of Mashable is one of the 25 top Internet experts on the planet according to Fortune/Forbes and is in my FB friends…..so when he Tweets about a new article it appears on my FB homepage. Reading his tweets I can see if want to read the entire linked piece, and just reading his blog every AM will keep a person up on everything new in high tech/blogging/social media/Internet marketing. For many of us this is a work necessity.

Also, all the big companies use Facebook and Twitter….and as a result there are ‘Mommy Bloggers’ making big bucks. From Adweek: http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/digital/e3icda4693bce31a5adaaa7b9d254568682

The fact is if you aren’t keeping up with technology you are blindsiding yourself to a world that can either help you a great deal, or hurt you.

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=v9pjZ39YtR8&feature=PlayList&p=7A007BE7032…

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Throwing+sheep+in+the+boardroom&aq=f

By Suzanne de Cornelia on 03/30/2009 7:05 pm

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"The fact is if you aren’t keeping up with technology you are blindsiding yourself to a world that can either help you a great deal, or hurt you. "

I don’t need to ‘twitter" in order to survive in the tech world, thank you. Some people may need it for their careers, life goals,power trips, etc. but I’m going to take it in moderation as I do TV, radio, chocolate, wine, and all those other things that can take over your life. Sometimes I like the life in Mayberry, and will try to hold on to it as long as I can. The slower pace is good for my sanity and longevity. For you go-getters, high flyers….enjoy!

By Dee T on 03/30/2009 8:16 pm

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Debbie,

I like blogging, since I’m a writer it’s a great place to work on my most recent projects, but when it comes toTwitter that is a different story. I’m a person who feels the need to focus on the on good explanations and descriptions for better understanding - all of which you have a difficult time doing on Twitter. Unless you do four or more "Twits" in a row but even then it can be disjointed.

By Chris Broersma on 03/28/2009 10:35 am

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Maybe it’s not so much the Twitter - or the cell phones, Blackberrys, etc - so much as it is just plain rudeness, self-absorption and addiction to instant gratification.

Twittering from the jury box? Completely inappropriate. Talking on your cell while trying to check out at the grocery store? Unbelievably rude to the cashier, and it holds up the other customers as well. Yakking on the phone while driving is an absolute epidemic and renders the driver just as incompetent as a drunk driver. And texting while driving? Those are Darwin Award cases, I just hope they don’t kill anyone else in the process.

I think in some circumstances, it should be not only legal, but a social obligation to take someone’s cell phone and snap it in half.

By Lila Kuh on 03/28/2009 11:05 am

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Hi, Lila: I agree. My favorite technogoof came the last time I was at the Opera in Seattle… some idiot had brought his laptop and was checking up on email during the intermission!!! LEAVE IT ALONE! Nobody is that important that they can’t be away from technology for a couple of hours……pulease. Get over yourselves!

By nanchan u on 03/28/2009 11:20 am

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Agreed! I have had a sign made for my front door: A red circle with a red line on the diagonal through it - "No Cell Phones". So many people asked me for one of my signs I’m thinking of going into business! I’m not unique. We’re tired of this nonsense. Communications is one thing, but this belief that we have something to say all the time, texting and talking, and now spot chats - and worse playing along with the game of those who set up the social networking sites, only means we’re daft!

Twitter - yes, I tried it when it first came out, but then after following some news people I respected, realized it was only for their egos, to advertise their lives, but nothing in return. How boring.

Personally, I simply don’t enjoy such time consuming activiities in my life - I’m busy working on far greater things - human lives, speaking, and writing.

For many years, since they dawned on the market, I had a cell phone, but always a mic and speaker in my vehicles, until people started using them in restaurants, meetings, etc. at which point I hired someone to merely handle my incoming business calls for me (it gave a lovely new mother a part-time job, too). Now, I hear rude, boisterous (usually males) in airports carrying on so-called business conversations to the point that they appear not only pathetic but creating a question as to if they’re truly talking to anyone who would listen to such banter.

Twitter is a temporary game - it will die out. In fact, from what I’m hearing from others around the nation, most of my peers are tired of constant communications. I am one who still enjoys writing letters, and sending cards to people - it says, in my humble opinion, I’m thinking about you, and you deserve my time.

I stay with this site, because I have enjoyed the people here, but the topics and recent transition to meaningless prattle about fashion, personal habits of others, and Hollywood ad nauseum, in the guise of questions, is becoming a bit much, but again, that is merely my own opinion.

By C jay on 03/31/2009 10:23 pm

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"I stay with this site, because I have enjoyed the people here, but the topics and recent transition to meaningless prattle about fashion, personal habits of others, and Hollywood ad nauseum, in the guise of questions, is becoming a bit much…."

C jay,

Glad you said that! I’ve been so busy I’ve only checked this site once a week or so. I thought I was somehow missing all the "good stuff," but I guess the focus has changed. Enjoyed your views on Twitter.

By Lee Harrison on 04/01/2009 8:00 pm

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Twittering is akin to talking nonstop about ourselves. It fairly shouts me, hear my opinions, loud and long. I’d never advocate going back to the days of calling cards or making a big deal out of getting a telephone call but what ever happened to personal privacy? Why is it necessary to keep a running commentary on our lives? Letting it all hang out and telling just about everything you know is talk or twitter pollution.

We don’t need to know that you had shrimp for lunch and it was deelish! How am I to relate to the fact that you started your period early? Got mad at the sales clerk because your store card was refused. Some comments may be worthy such as big traffic jam or school closing early due to storm. Most are inane.

There is no mystery to us and we leave no doubt that we can’t hold a secret with electronic media. Because it is instant anything said can be posted far and wide immediately. Once out there it is for all to see. Some of it can be hurtful or embarrassing under some circumstances.

Your friends might care about your views but the rest of us are tired of being hammered with instant commentary. Let us experience things for ourselves and form our own opinions.

By Chris Glass` on 03/28/2009 3:38 pm

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Twitter was used by the different fire agencies during the massive California wildfires to instantly communicate with each other.

Twitter was used by hostages in the Mumbia terrorist attacks to communicate with police and the outside world.

Twitter was used by a passenger in the plane that splashed down in the Hudson to transmit his first eyewitness cellphone photo to the rest of the world—and it is the iconic image from the scene.

There are many ways our lives and the world are improved by technology—and Twitter—like most things it can be used for good or not.

By Suzanne de Cornelia on 03/31/2009 11:13 am

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I’m certain that Twitter has legitimate uses as other sources of communication do. I know that companies scan Twitter to see if they are mentioned. Some Twitter messages are important. In reality many individuals use it as another toy or way to keep their fingers busy.

I am also one of the people who discourage the use of calling me on my cell phone unless it is an emergency. If a family member or friend needs to talk I am there for them. Don’t interrupt my day just because you have time on your hands and want to fill it with idle chatter. I am for any technology that helps us communicate better as long as it is used properly.

By Chris Glass` on 03/31/2009 5:21 pm