The social network, Twitter, has provided a service that produces a send and read text-based post service. These messages, otherwise known as “Tweets”, are limited to 140 Characters. Jack Dorsey, along with Evan Williams and Biz Stone founded Twitter in 2006 (Picard). They wanted to created another form of a “send message service”, which is also known as text messages. They also wanted to reformulate a dying company (Segolla). Twitter is not only a service for impulse, social grooming and peripheral awareness, but it has also been utilized to be globally aware of current events, sharing information, recommendations, and even professional advice from many different types of companies. However, there is a correlation between the connection of Twitter, communication and reading within this community of “Tweeters” or “Followers”. Since society is inclined to follow trends, “Twitter” was included amongst the list of trends. It has not only managed to grow in popularity, but have also managed to integrate into the “intellectual” trend as well (Mosenthal).
The action of reading is the general action being made while operating this service. Reading is also a main learning skill that is generally taught to society, while obtaining and acquiring information. According to Mosenthal, the definition of reading is: applied reading skills, reading common materials, being utilized for educational purposes and the ability to decipher the content. Twitter has all four attributes of these reading since it is being used for acquiring useful information. It is used for reading information that is being read globally, and also used as teaching or learning tool. The Information provided is evidently being put to use, which supports the fact that society understands what they are acquiring (Mosenthal). Twitter is now being questioned by professors, challenging the ability of learning through this social media network. Twitter itself has already created an engagement with society, and will create a “real-time” environment for students if it is being used for educational purposes (Rinaldo). However it is social networks like Twitter, that will change traditional forms of reading and will be replaced by the digital text. The fate of the digital text is inescapable, but will be innovated by collaborating with social events and the social community (Bromley). Will this replacement improve the ability of reading? Even though public education and public libraries have been neglected, different mediums are constantly being created to preserve what is left of the history of reading. Twitter was created to be a community for public events which reaches out to society. A “text-based” service such as Twitter, will assist in completing tasks, create social change, and constitute social reality (Pacquet). It is evident that society is ready for a social change like Twitter since most of the online audience has already chosen to utilize this service. People are constantly seeking for manageable ways to attain information, and now, social networks are allowing society to share more than just information such as, photos, videos, live streams and more (Jarvis. Twitter has provided social and international relationships, creating beneficial connections and has therefore made it a commonly used community (Gruzd). Most of Twitter’s existence depends on its’ followers. Personalities that correlate to entertainment, music, media and sports industries are the cause of the billions of connections through Twitter and cause the action of “following” (Miller). The limited interaction creates comfort and does not restrict the people that utilizes Twitter (Mateosian).