Twitter

Twitter

http://www.twitter.com

About

Twitter is a privately funded startup with offices in the SoMA neighborhood of San Francisco, CA. Started as a side project in March of 2006, Twitter has grown into a real-time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices. Twitter was funded initially by Obvious, a creative environment in San Francisco, CA. The first prototype was built in two weeks in March 2006 and launched publicly in August of 2006. The service grew popular very quickly and Twitter moved outside of Obvious. In May 2007, Twitter Incorporated was founded.

Review
Twitter is a good way to communicate with many people at once in real time. Tweets are limited to 140 characters so knowledge of text abbreviations is helpful. One may tweet from a cell phone or computer. Older tweens may be allowed to tweet by their parents. Tweets count as text messages on one's phone bill, however, so discretion is required. Twitter has proved to be an excellent tool for worldwide grassroots communication. For example, after the shutdown of the media in Iran after last spring's "elections," much of the information coming out of that country, came via twitter. But, mostly, it's Facebook for people with really short attention spans (like tweens).


Genre: Website, Social Networking
Warnings: Tweets are notoriously unedited.
Advertisements: No
Target Audience: Everyone


Twitter is very attractive to tweens who can afford digital media devices.