I often contemplate life AFTER the toppling of the hierarchy of information. User-generated content, crowdsourcing, and a host of new media formats are now the top ways we access information. And one of the most popular new modes is Twitter.

Personally, I find Twitter more useful, more interesting, and more educational than Facebook. Thomas Cramptom blogged it this way, “Facebook is WHO you know, Twitter is WHAT you know.” I agree because I find FB is much social trivia (which has its place) alongside photos and current events. Twitter, on the other hand, can help each user form a personal learning network or professional learning community. There are no hurt feelings about not being “friended” and no pressure to “like” anything or anyone. Information is shared for the sake of being important to whoever finds it meaningful or significant.

Now: WHO will you follow? When you think about who you are, what is personally meaningful to you, what you are passionate about…a tool like Twitter allows you to move down a path toward those personally significant ideas, whether professional or simply interesting.

HOW will you follow? I learned from a colleague (Laura Solomon and her book on social media for librarians) that online networking tools require participation. Just as social etiquette teaches us to be polite, to use manners, and to think of others (not just what we want for ourselves), social networking is an ongoing dialogue that works best when we give credit to others and are willing to share with them.
Personally, the tweets I find most useful are those that share informative tidbits, links to cool cutting-edge information, or personal reflections on something meaningful. While Twitter can be great for sharing locations at conferences or live events, I don’t think that is the best use. Other geo-location apps are available to share where we are! Topics like what we are eating, who we are with, or our plans for the evening are best posted on FB, in my opinion (and maybe even limited to groups and individuals who are interested). As new tools emerge (and perhaps another tool will replace the ones we are now using), it becomes critical to understand the purpose.

WHY use Twitter? As I mention quite often on this blog, information delivery has been revolutionized. I can no longer keep up with current modes of access, storage, or any other information-related term. I need my personal and professional learning network. Oh- I still need books and other formats of information. But, without my PLN, I would be less able to cope with the constant barrage of high-tech gadgets, apps, and new media formats. As I scroll through my Twitter feed, my feelings about balancing the physical world and the digital world are validated by others who understand the need to pause and reflect on being human.

Twitter is just one of many tools that are helping me collaborate with others who share my quest for a positive outlook on the other side of the information revolution.