Is Twitter Stupid? It’s More Than You Think

by | 48 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

Is Twitter Stupid?As you probably know, I’m a fan of Twitter. I’ve even wondered if I tweet too much (a minimum of 20-30 times a day). But I can’t help it. I love this silly little social network.

And for good reason.

I’ve gained real friendships on Twitter, found employment there, gotten a lot of blog traffic from it, and even learned a lot through asking questions.

So, it surprises me, when people say that Twitter is stupid — especially since it’s now been around for five years.

Twitter gets a bad rap, mostly due to misunderstandings and unfair prejudices. Critics tend to assume the following about Twitter:

  • Twitter is narcissistic. It only panders to people’s obsessions with themselves and the desire to be famous.
  • Twitter is a waste of time. I’ve heard people say, “How can you spend hours on that thing?” (And that’s a valid critique.)
  • Twitter is trivial. I often hear naysayers criticize it for being used to merely talk about what people are eating or when they’re going to the bathroom or whatever.
  • Twitter is just another social network. Why not just stay on Facebook, where the real action is?

Those people don’t get it. They don’t understand what Twitter is all about. And I don’t blame them; it took me two-and-a-half years to figure out how to use Twitter. Here’s why I now love it:

  • Twitter is a conversation. I’ve found real, authentic community on Twitter in ways that I’ve never before experienced on Facebook.
  • Twitter connects you with the world. Some people have been able to use Twitter to build a platform from scratch. Justin Halpern wrote a book and got a TV show from his twitter account. (Warning: his tweets contain some profanity.)
  • People are making a difference on Twitter. Just follow @invisiblepeople if you think Twitter is narcissistic or trivial. Some people are using their 140 characters to create real change.
  • Twitter is unique. With Twitter, you don’t have to be connected with someone mutually in order to follow them (like you do with Facebook’s “friend request”). Beyond that, I can’t explain it, but Twitter is different. With the hash tags and retweets and constant conversation, there is just something unusual and extraordinary about this medium.
  • Twitter is a resource. It’s my go-to spot to ask questions, sometimes before Google. You can also use Twitter Search to find short, helpful content. I’ve heard about others using Twitter as a personal search engine, and I’ve learned a lot, using it this way.

Here’s a great video about Twitter, celebrating five years in the making, compliments of Mashable:

There’s more to Twitter than you may have thought. Discover Twitter today.

How do you use Twitter? Do you think it’s stupid?

Share in the comments.

Thanks for reading this article! If you’re new, you might want to read more about me or follow me on Twitter.

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. I live in Tennessee with my wife and dog. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

  • http://eileenknowles.blogspot.com Eknowles

    Still getting my tweeting feet wet. Not sure I’m a believer yet. But I have to remember that 2 years ago I thought…why in the world would I blog? Now, I wish I hadn’t waited so long to start! So… maybe twitter is the same way.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Have you read my twitter tips post?

  • Bethdeesb

    Great post Jeff! I totally agree! I like facebook, but love twitter and converse on it much more than I do on fb.

    The only thing I dislike about twitter is if you have a protected account you can’t reply to someone or send them a tweet unless they follow you. I like the protected account because the tweets don’t show up on the search engine before you log on. And even if you have someone blocked for any reason, they can still see your tweets from the “search engine”. Just wish there was a way to protect your account, but at same time be able to send tweets to anyone without them having to follow me.

    Other than that, I love it!!

    Thanks again for your post!

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Glad to hear it!

  • http://twitter.com/NolanBobbitt Nolan Bobbitt

    twitter makes me laugh, think, and grow…it has been a great tool for me to meet some really cool new friends and I like it much more than facebook…the only thing that is “stupid” about twitter is some of the “sucking up” that I see people doing in an effort to be re-tweeted by a “twitter celebrity”

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Amen!

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    I used to think Twitter was stupid when I first signed on, only because I didn’t get how to use it. Now I love it – and use it way more than Facebook.

    Like you said, it really is a connection tool, and probably the main reason why I use it.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      I was the same.

  • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylereed

    Could not agree more with the benefits of twitter.
    Everything I do professionally and really for fun is because of twitter. I have made great friends, gotten jobs, and able to work for myself because of twitter. Heck, I moved to Nashville because of twitter.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      I knew you would, Kyle. Love how you use twitter Kyle. You’re a friend first.

  • http://www.dahlfred.com/blogs/gleanings-from-the-field Karl Dahlfred

    Good thoughts. I think two things keep people away from Twitter, 1) When you sign up, it is not intuitive as to what you’re supposed to do. There is a steep learning curve, and 2) people don’t realize that Twitter largely revolves around common interest groups, not around friendship with people you already know. Unlike Facebook, connecting with strangers is helpful and non-creepy because you have something in common. To that end, it is much better than Facebook for resource sharing, getting news, and asking questions.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Those are great points, Karl!

  • http://twitter.com/PeterPaluska Peter Paluska

    No doubt about it, Twitter is a beast, if only a small one compared to Facebook. But it almost feels more beastly, what with the speed of the incoming information, and the colossal sprawl of the variety of content that is available.
    I love it. It is true, it’s no mean trick to get going on it but once you do get the hang of it, you have created an extremely valuable tool to build BIG equity for your personal brand.
    Thanks, Jeff!

    Peter

    • http://twitter.com/PeterPaluska Peter Paluska

      Oh yeah, and I am also going to tweet this article! I mean, how could I not?;-)

      • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

        Hah!

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      I agree Peter! Thanks for commenting!

  • http://douglasryoung.net Douglas Young

    Like Facebook, I think it creates some valuable connections, but, once again like Facebook, it can be an incredible time suck. For that reason, my wife isn’t so fond of Twitter. And… I get her point!

    Great post, bro.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Totally, Douglas.

  • http://duane-Scott.net/ Duane Scott

    No, I love Twitter. :) I’ll vouch all the time for it.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Me too!

  • http://davidsantistevan.com David Santistevan

    Twitter is awesome. I think it’s especially useful for people who want to build a platform for their message. Otherwise, I think facebook would suffice for the simple act of keeping up with what your friends are doing. But if you’re a content creator, artist, author, etc, it’s truly invaluable.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Agreed, David!

  • http://worldofmusick.wordpress.com Ashley Musick

    I didn’t understand Twitter at first, but the more I use it, the more I like it. The main reason I like Twitter is because I find useful information (and sometimes fun) through links my friends share. I guess twitter works better for this than facebook because I can connect with more people rather than just my “friends.”

    Basically, I’m learning more because of Twitter.

    Sure some people tell me about their lunch or other stuff, but I like the links best.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      I love that you’re liking twitter, Ashley. And I personally love seeing what people had for lunch. Have you ever played with foodspotting? It’s awesome.

  • http://TheInvisibleOffice.com Erica Cosminsky

    I love Twitter too. Twitter is awesome because you can not only connect with people but create strong friendships.
    For example: Last fall, my mom who travels internationally about 90% of the year was in Singapore for the first time. She had an allergic reaction to something and ended up with cellulitis. (This is a really long story I’m abbreviating.) She needed a doctor, quickly. I DMed one of my Twitter friends who happened to live in Singapore and they picked my mom up and took her to the dr. My mom thought it was little bizarre at first but I had been friends with these people for over a year.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Wow!

  • http://www.newlifecalu.com Kim Wilson

    I don’t think Twitter’s stupid. I’m still trying to figure out what I think of it, though. I’ve been a tweeter for about a month. It’s tough to start from scratch in the social network scene of Twitter when I’ve got hundreds of friends in the facebook world. It has been great to connect with other bloggers and to read great posts (I wouldn’t be reading or responding to this if I hadn’t been on Twitter). At first I didn’t like it, but it’s growing on me a bit.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      I’m glad!

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  • http://twitter.com/chuckazooloo Chuck Harris

    great post Jeff.
    twitter is one thing to me–community.
    i can pose questions, make critiques, seek feedback, talk to distant friends and mentors. it is quite possibly one of the most critical tools i have in my toolbox.
    that being said, i can be narcissistic and waste a great deal of time on the network.
    still great post. trying to read your blog more. keep it up

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      thanks, chuck. i love that. it’s the same for me.

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  • http://twitter.com/dkwong5 Derek Wong

    I think your “Twitter is unique” point about how Twitter does not require mutual connection/following is what makes Twitter differentiated from Facebook, and justifies its position as a standalone social network.

    Those who don’t care for my Tweets about my beloved Liverpool Football Club can just keep scrolling and completely ignore that stream. If I updated Facebook with a play-by-play of every soccer game that LFC plays, I would most certainly get “unfriended” by a number of people on FB. With Twitter, I feel free to interact with other Liverpool fans on game day, using hashtags, direct tweets, and replies.

    Sometimes I see a Facebook friend update their FB status on the same subject (e.g. the President’s State of the Union Address, the Super Bowl, their kid’s swim meet) over and over again, and I would think to myself “this guy really needs to be Tweeting.”

    I might also add that Twitter, more so than FB, lends itself to updating on the go. The plethora of mobile Twitter apps (Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Peep, UberTwitter, etc) allow smartphone and iPad users to quickly inform followers about what’s going on. In this respect, the 140 character limit works in Twitter’s favor and prevents oversharing that can be a bit self-defeating for those who use social networks on mobile devices.

    • http://goinswriter.com Jeff Goins

      Well said, Derek!

  • http://twitter.com/not2lindsay Lindsay Goodwin

    I use Twitter as the ultimate personalized news aggregator. I follow people whose viewpoints are valuable to me. Sometimes they are people that I respect, people with whom I agree. Other times, I follow people that I don’t necessarily respect, with whom I don’t necessarily agree. By following them, I’m able to see the world from their eyes…or at least what their eyes are watching and reading online. I love that. Twitter (and the community I’ve found there) have broadened my horizon unlike anything else, and I’m truly grateful for that.

    • http://about.me/jeffgoins Jeff Goins

      I use it for this, as well! Thanks for sharing, Lindsay.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      I do this, too! It’s my first go-to for news and resources!

  • Esther

    It’d be pretty dumb to think Twitter is stupid. But there would be a big lack in my life if there were no Facebook. The variety is necessary. Similarly, I am thankful that God created both men and women.

    I can’t help thinking that Twitter is especially attractive to men reflecting their typical mode of communication: short, to-the-point, gettin’ the job done.

    • http://about.me/jeffgoins Jeff Goins

      interesting… thanks for the comment, esther!

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      I think you’re right, Esther. Good observation.

  • Crusherman34

    I personally think Twitter a waste of time.  Get out and LIVE!

  • Juderyan2

    Twitter is a boring site for boring people with boring lives.  How many people who actually accomplish anything with their lives (not celebutantes) bother with this site?  I admire the use of social networking for political protests, but the vast majority of Twitter is garbage.  It is actually a sad excuse for a life.

  • Old Fashion

    Get off the d*** phone and do something in real life and watch where you are walking or driving. Why do we need more things to occupy our daily lives, I cant wait to get away from talking from people at the end of the week which means no more phones, text messages or emails. Peace and quiet is heaven.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      thanks, but i mostly tweet from my computer. does this advice still apply?

  • http://www.herbalcoolingtea.com Ben Sanami (FB Liangcha)

    No I don’t think Twitter is stupid. Actually Yes I was one who criticized how stupid Twitter was but after I learned how to use it I realized that Twitter is offering a lot more targeted and unique traffic. For example, every time I promote my ecourse I get a few more sign ups but if I do that on Facebook I get nothing. So how about start a post called “Is Facebook stupid? It’s just about people talking about themselves”! lol It really does sound like it …

  • Pat

    Twitter is stupid only if it is used stupidly.

  • http://twitter.com/JohannMurillo Johan Murillo

    Thanks for this post Jeff. Very useful to help others to understand why Twitter could be useful for them.

    I use twitter as a tool of learning, sharing and networking.

    Since you lived in Spain I guess you can read my 3 reasons of  why I prefer Twitter here: http://bit.ly/seBZKH. Basically what it says is that Twitter is minimalistic and a great learning and change tool.

    At the end, Twitter is just a tool. How we use it, makes the difference.

  • Michael

    People are being punished for sayiing what they REALLY think and we have draconian libel laws in the UK.

    With all the PC crap taken to an extreme now-again more in Britain than anywhere else -its absolutely not the place to be for anybody is outspoken.

    A sad place for sad people.

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