Twitter Famous
I just read a truly stunningly fantastic book, Followers by Megan Angelo, and I need to unpack some of the thoughts in there–the deep ones and the not-quite-so-deep ones (like today’s)–completely spoiler-free. So dive in with me, yes?
All you need to know is that Followers moves back and forth between 2015, which is just like the real 2015, and 2051, which is a future society where some people’s lives are televised 24/7, like The Truman Show.
The first quote was just funny, but once I stopped to think about it… I really couldn’t make sense of Twitter. It’s someone from 2051 reflecting on what life was like back in the olden days. On page 112, Marlow visits a nursing-home-like place and encounters a man there:
“I was Twitter-famous,” one of the old men croaked at her, glaring, and Marlow just nodded and smiled, pretending to be impressed. She had never quite understood Twitter, through ***** still talked about it like a dead, beloved friend. Short messages, but to everyone, mostly pointless, with blatant lies allowed–Marlow could not imagine what had been the appeal.
[See, really, no spoilers. I even blotted out the person’s name with asterisks so you won’t know the connection between characters before it happens in the book.]
I laughed reading the lines, but then I thought about it. Why do we go on Twitter? It’s not a great space for unpacking big feelings, unlike a blog. Anyone can read it, unlike Facebook. It’s mostly pointless, again, unlike a blog. And blatant lies are allowed by the platform itself… how is it even a helpful source for information?
I don’t spend a lot of time on Twitter. I pop on to get questions answered (eg. is a site down for everyone else, or is it just me?) and sometimes to post a thought so I don’t lose it. It’s not my favourite platform. Though, I guess, you could break down every other internet space–including blogs–by similarly stark observations and wonder why we spend so much time online.
Do you like Twitter?
9 comments
I appreciate some of the content, but I do not have an account and do not want or need one.
I like twitter. I’m not Phoenix on there. I use a different anonymous name. But I use twitter to follow a specific interest of mine, so I think it can be fun and useful if you enjoy a particular niche sport/hobby/etc. It can be a good way to connect with others that share your common interest.
No, I despise Twitter for all the reasons above. To me it’s like a million people are all shouting at each other, trying to be heard…..it’s chaotic and loud and irritating. I had to get an account for my last job. And, now that I think about it? I quit a month ago, I do believe it’s time to delete my Twitter account. Thanks!
This passage kinda summarizes why I’ve never joined Twitter and rarely read anything posted on there (unless it ends up in a related news story). Seems pointless to me.
I don’t have a twitter account but I actually read on there a lot…ever since 2016 election. I actually get a lot of breaking news there. Or viral videos. (I don’t peruse YouTube tiktok etc)
I have a Twitter account, but only to have access to it when there are Twitter links. I hardly ever go on it even to read, and I’ve never really posted. I think it could just suck time. I’ve only just branched out to Instagram (for No Kidding in NZ), but Twitter seems like a much bigger commitment.
I actually like Twitter, to a point. Yes, it can be a cesspool, and sometimes I have to just walk away, but there’s also a lot of wit and humour there. I only have about 6 followers (mostly online friends from the ALI world) and only very, very rarely post anything original or comment on others’ posts… I mostly just like and retweet stuff. I do tend to be more political there than I am on Facebook (partly because I have a much smaller following there), and it’s kind of nice to have that outlet. 😉
I have a Twitter account, but only recently, and I don’t quite have the hang of it. I don’t ever post anything, I just follow other people (like Neil Gaiman, or our local NPR people, or nerdy teacher people), but I haven’t gone on in forever. Twitter seemed a bit like a rabbit hole, but one that I never went too far down because it seemed like it would take more time than it was worth.
I mostly don’t do Twitter, unless you count tweets that go viral and later have news stories/blogs/etc written about them. I don’t have a Twitter account. Mostly that’s because I got sucked in a bit by F.B. and now have too much going on there to quit (but sometimes kind of wish I had the resolve to do so – I do deactivate my account on and off), so I decided that until I’ve figured out my personal social media philosophy, I’m not joining anything else.
I’m on the waiting list for “Followers” at the library and reading this makes me hope my name comes up soon!