You’re Addicted to Twitter if You…
One of the most exciting developments in 2008 was the rapid growth of Twitter. Much has been written about it. Hubspot recently released their first annual State of the Twittersphere Q4 2008 report. Shel Israel is writing a book called Twitterville which I look forward to reading. In his forthcoming book Shel profiles several brands and individuals using Twitter in their business such as Zappos, Rubbermaid and Scott Monty of Ford Motor Company. Visit Shel’s blog for more details and to keep tabs on the book’s progress and availability.
In addition to some great reading on the impact of Twitter on our culture and society mentioned above I want to offer some thoughts of my own. The following list is not based on any scientific research. Rather this list is based on my gut instincts. In other words, this list is just my humble opinion.
You just might be addicted to Twitter if you….
- Load Twitter first thing in the morning before you check your email.
- Tweet something as the last waking moment before you go to bed.
- When you meet someone for the first time after asking their name, the next question you ask is if they follow you on Twitter.
- The next question you ask this new person is how many followers they have.
- You check your Twitter Grader daily.
- You check your Twitter following growth daily (or hourly).
- You feel lame if you haven’t Tweeted in an hour.
- You always Tweet what you’re doing where ever you are.
- You look at people who don’t use Twitter as aliens from another planet.
- You can’t remember life before Twitter.
- You have grown to hate email because you’d rather use Twitter.
- You review every new Twitter application as soon as it’s available.
- You post more than 100 Twitter updates per day.
- You feel compelled to reply to every one of Chris Brogan’s Tweets.
- You check Twitter names just to see if they are available.
- You dream up new Twitter names just because.
- You revise your Twitter profile once per week.
- You change your Twitter picture once per week.
- You dream up ways to talk about Twitter with your non-Twitter friends.
- You are seriously considering ditching your non-Twitter friends if they don’t get on Twitter.
- You invent new Twitter vocabulary all the time.
- When you visit a website you look for their Twitter identity. If you don’t find one you think less of the company.
- Your significant other accuses you of spending more time with people on Twitter whom you’ve never met than you spend with him or her.
- No matter how many Twitter followers you have, you’re never satisfied.
- You have a separate calling card just with your Twitter identity. You’ve been handing out that card more than your regular business card recently.
- You haven’t been responsive to people calling your name because you prefer to be called by your Twitter name.
- You get the shakes if your mind draws blank and you can’t think of something to Tweet about.
- When you attend business meetings, you send and reply to Tweets from your mobile device.
- Your mobile device buzzes non-stop because you have enabled the device setting for most of the people you follow on Twitter.
You are really addicted to Twitter if you have set up one or more additional Twitter identities so you can lead a secret double or triple life.
This is a partial list of attributes of Twitter addiction. If you or someone you love suffers from Twitter addiction, please seek help. There must be other signs of Twitter addiction not listed here. I encourage you to add them so you can help someone who suffers from Twitter addiction. Please add to this list in the comments section below.
BTW, are you following me on Twitter?
Bernie Borges
@berniebay
28 Comments to You’re Addicted to Twitter if You…
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I am following you now, great post, lol and of course, I read about it on twitter…
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I am so addicted to twitter! Thanks for the post. and I am following you now.
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Well, yes. Yes, I believe I am addicted to Twitter. But wowza some of those are messed up!
@seeking_balance -
Here's another symptom:
Your spouse is searching for Tweeters Anonymous -
very cute post!
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I never thought about Tweeter's Anonymous! I wonder if the Twitter name is available for it?
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Seriously addicted, but still under control. And will definitely follow you!
@divamover -
Good way to attract addicts! Can't help ourselves!!!! We even love reading about how addicted we are
LOL
ILT! (I Love Twitter!) -
@susi b ROFL we love reading about how addicted we are. SWEET!
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Not yet, but I'm working on it!
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Great article. Too bad I can relate to most of it. I'm following you now…looking forward to your tweets!
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OMG, these made me chuckle, but this one made me spit on my screen…
"I never thought about Tweeter’s Anonymous! I wonder if the Twitter name is available for it?"
@crystalpina
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Totally addicted to Twitter when you start thinking in 140 character thoughts.
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I think you just described my life. What's wrong with my friends who AREN'T on Twitter!
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@Crystalpina: I think Tweeters Anonymous would be a 13 step program, because, 12 won't be enough….
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I'm still breathtaken by how powerful Twitter was in Mumbai when India faced their 911.
6 Bloggers who were also Twittering were in the hotel pinned up in their rooms not knowing if they were going to die..and these people actually were using Twitter to stay calm as they became part of the 80 twitter messages every 5 seconds that were coming out of Mumbai that horrible day.
When a government begs the people to stop their Twittering because the bad guys are leveraging the Tweets to destroy them…you know Twitter is a serious communications channel.
Thanks for a brilliant post.
Jerry -
Twitter = Texting for exhibitionists
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This is an article that is dead on. I know a few people that this described perfectly.
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Yes I am really addicted in twitter!!! I love ipod…and I came to a point, I want to transfer my data to my pc just to save a buck-up. I surfed on the internet then I found TRANSFERPOD it provide me software that enabled me to transfer my files from my ipod/ iphone to my PC or MAC in case of ipod/iphone damage. And it is easy to use even for the non- computer savvy.
I found that in twitter.
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Love twitter, but it makes most sense if u can mix it with real life: Was at a massive conference and somebody there tweeted that he needed a phone charger – I had one & tweeted back – we found later that he was actually sitting just in front of me
love it! -
I think you just described my life. What's wrong with my friends who AREN'T on Twitter!
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Twitter absolutely rocks! But try explaining it to friends who aren't on it or who don't get it! Good luck… @reply what?! re-tweet – what in god's name is that?
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LOVE Twitter Grader! HubSport def. makes great web apps…
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I am definitely addicted to Twitter; I check it on my Blackberry non stop. At first I hated Twitter but now I'm addicted.
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Well, it is excellent, but how about the other choices we've got here? Do you mind crafting another article about these too? Many thanks!
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I'm aware about this previously, nevertheless there was clearly some useful bits that finished the picture for me, thank you so much!
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