Switched-On Magazine

Twitter is the latest micro-blogging, social networking website on the Internet, and it is about time someone created a website where one can stream their thoughts almost as instantly as they think of them. To think of all the wasted thoughts that have popped into people's brains and then disappeared into the ether is unsettling. Finally, there is an outlet for people to share their thoughts, ideas, funny tidbits, and minor occurrences. It sounds like a decent idea, maybe not life changing, but not necessarily a bad idea. Of course, that is until one actually looks on Twitter and sees what people actually think – and then it's on the internet forever.  Cool when you're 15, maybe not so much when you're older (especially if you're doing things you know you shouldn't!).

When going on Twitter.com and viewing a person's home page, all one is exposed to is a webpage with some generic design as a background, possibly their picture, and then every thought that has occurred to them in the last month. The website is simple in design and nature, although I feel like there may be a hidden agenda having to do with data intake on topics being sent to major corporations. Regardless, the problem is not the website, but the people that sign up for Twitter. Anyone can make a website, but the public is the one that popularize it. Twitter did not get popular on its very own. People flocked to it, which then led to companies, government, news stations, and celebrities making their own Twitter accounts. Next thing you know, everyone is telling people to "tweet” and "follow” them.

It is time for a reality check for those of you on Twitter. Be careful what you put out there!  You may think no one cares what miniscule thing happened in your life or what mildly amusing thought came to you today - Twitter can be like talking to yourself. But one day, those thoughts could come back to haunt you – that awesome exploit you and your friends carried out may not be so awesome when you're interviewing for a real job.  Here's one thing to consider - if you have a Twitter account, get rid of it and actually talk to a human being!