The pen

Fernando Mexia, the pen.

Twitter is a revolution, I say from the discredit, at least it was when I learned of the existence of this social network. Yes, my first impression was of total disbelief because who cares what a stranger can tell on the internet or your daily routines? At the end of the day, many of the messages posted on Twitter that range from "good morning, I just got up," "I'm waiting for the train," or "I stayed with some friends." Surely this is something insubstantial. But the original use of this network does not detract from its potential, just points out one of its possible functions and evidence that it is a communication tool that is still being defined. Twitter is a change in the way of sharing information that goes beyond an SMS message but only allows 140 characters, is a much more dynamic network that is Facebook and more alive than conventional means. Some have referred to Twitter as a tool for real-time information about the "conscience of the planet."

Define Twitter is easier than it sounds: a free communication network where all participants are senders and receivers consisting of individual entities, usually individuals but may also be companies who exchange short messages with each other through the Internet. The fact that it is forming a global platform is what creates confusion around but its universal scope makes it a "weapon of mass media" like television with the difference that puts Twitter in the hands of any citizen a power had previously only large corporations. It sounds grandiose, but all indications are that future sources of information and traditional opinion leaders influence able to compete with people of flesh and blood, name, who have succeeded in gaining the confidence of a legion of readers on Twitter. Since there are many who have hundreds of thousands of followers in this network. In a few years (say in a couple ), as this tool is developed strongly in the five continents (so far your odds for success lies in its growth in the U.S.) will be people who have millions of "friends" on Twitter like to receive your views are more or less substantial / / These projections were obsolete. There are currently dozens of users with over one million followers (added on August 11, 2009) / / Some audience levels envy conventional media, including through their online editions, because they will have achieved almost no cost and by a simple relationship of trust.

No wonder that today's newspaper industry is watching the growth of Twitter and are taking positions to ride this train where there are still free sites to get slice of the future of this tool, promising but still in the air.

This week I was surprised by the news that American newspaper editors of the Chicago Tribune veteran included in the printed her identity on Twitter to encourage readers of the newspaper to follow them through the network and communicate directly with them. A significant step in this header born in 1847 is going his worst moment in history after the media conglomerate that owns Tribune Co. went bankrupt in 2008.

A British television channel known at the international level, Sky News, recently created the figure of the journalist Twitter correspondent in order to extract the relevant information is distributed through the network and make traditional news.

All those (it's a rough generalization) with a desire to influence people, either politically, knowledgeable, well commercially, they already have a Twitter account. It seems clear that there is a consensus on this platform: you must be, another separate issue is how.

Barack Obama (her team of publicists) uses Twitter to ask for support in different campaigns, launch messages of optimism to the people or invite people to ask you something (the latter seems a little bold), coffee chain Starbucks opts for giving information about their products and local, but it really will mobilize the masses will be the communication personal, there is someone behind to speak for his own mouth.

There are actors in Hollywood who use Twitter to find out what fans think of their TV sets after the issuance of the last chapter, many celebrities have broken the barriers imposed by the usual security measures railways and now "chat" with their fans on Twitter , suffice as an example the list containing Celebrity Tweet including Yoko Ono, Lance Armstrong, Demi Moore and Britney Spears . All "tweet" from time to time, including Spears.

A struggle to maintain their influence and popularity in the new medium while others such as webmasters Mashable , a benchmark in terms of internet social networks strive to consolidate their positions as transmitters of information on the digital development and, ultimately, make the trend of what is fashionable or not on the web.

The key to success : having something interesting to offer content, messenger make something worthwhile and always put it in human form. Oddly enough the "dehumanized" Internet world, the "touch" personal is what makes the difference and cultivate a relationship of trust between the reader and the issuer. When the crowds pass the initial boom, only those who have been able to have a recognizable identity may consolidate as leaders in Twitter would that be worth money?, I think so, and much ...

Unlike Facebook, Twitter is 100 percent operational from any terminal with internet access and works as an SMS. Final hatching worldwide will not arrive until the widespread use of "smartphones" (iPhone, Blackberry or similar), common in the U.S. rather than elsewhere. Then it's moment of truth for Twitter.