Twitter is a social networking tool that lets you say 'What are you doing' in 140 words or less using a mobile device, usually a cell phone. Other people can then follow you to see what you are doing. You, in turn, can follow others, up to hundreds of others, and receive constand 'twitters' on their activities. It's a kind of social hive-mind of constant short bursts of communication cenetered around the one question, what are you doing now.

Based on your perspective, twitter is either a highly interactive, immersive, and addictive activity that changes your experience of community or it is a pointless, intrusive waste of time. (check out a discussion of Twitter on TWIT episode 134 and also a discussion of the effects of the mass use of Twitter at SXSW on TWIT episode 136 ).

Talk about different personas responding to a technologies effects! This is a perfect example of different perspectives on a new way of interacting that was not previously possible. People who are Twitter 'addicts' say that they get an entirely new sense of community, the place and activity of literally dozens or even hundreds of others moment by moment. It makes them feel 'in the flow' of things and more connected than they could ever be before Twitter.

Those who 'don't get it' typically see this activity as a waste of time. They are not interested in the fact that John is now 'Sitting down to eat at Joes Diner with Carol' and is then 'Ordering the Mushroom Burger with Fries and a Pepsi'. What is the point? These individuals would never themselves even want to have others know about this level of 'uninteresting' detail for themselves and don't want to know it about others whom they may not even know.

The fact is that Twitter is becoming a VERY popular and widely used tool for those who want and value social community and constant interaction. Typical social behaviors such as 'status' (I have more followers than you do) are emerging and these just reinforce our understanding of the human community in all its complexity.

Technology Effects

Twitter's primary effects are twofold:

1. Easy and mobile method of broadcasting your moment to moment activities to a community.
2. Easy and mobile method of seeing the moment to moment activities of individuals in a community

The behavioral transformation is individuals who now will type in their current action. The 140 word limit promotes frequency since it can be done quickly and focuses the sender on atomic actions rather than a narrative story. The ability to follow others creates connections as well as a social hierarchy, both very human desires.

The information transformation is from activity to text (in 140 words) and the symmetrical one to many and many to one connection. The communication and social network management infrastructure that enables this is simple to understand and extremely scalable.

Community Needs and Desires

Twitter is all about community. So just what are the needs and desires being satisfied by it? Is there a 'need' here? Do people really need to tell others what they are doing moment by moment? Clearly this is a desire on the part of some (many) rather than a need (after all we all did perfectly well without Twitter a year ago). So what are the desires, the outcomes and experiences, that Twitter is satisfying? Here are some possibilities:

• Social status
• Connection with others
• Renown
• Keeping track of friends
  
• Not being left out
• Sense of 'flow'
• Knowledge of detail

And many others. Notice that these are all experiential. Twitter is one of those few new things that is virtually all about the experience rather than the outcome (although this will change - see comments below on viral marketing). Who, after all, needs to know what your friend is eating at a restaurant this minute? It's all about the experience and the desire precedes the need.

Possible Personas

There are several possible personas who will influence Twitter's success. Here are some possibilities:

1. Rock Star
2. Groupie
3. Hermit
4. Agitator
5. Chill
6. Fogey
7. Curious
   

These personas can (and should) be instrumental in Twitter's success.

Opinion

Twitter is a disruptive capability that enables a mode of interaction that has never before been possible. This means of interaction is now an integral part of the social environment and, whether it is Twitter or something else (see Pownce) it will remain a part of the social scene.

Outlook and Prognosis

Twitter will become a viral marketing platform. The Rock Star's will figure out how to direct the masses to follow them and direct them to their specific interests. Corporate interests will be late to the party but they will figure out how to become involved with the person to person interaction. Look out for Twitter (and others) to figure out how to take their community interactions and turn them into value.