I usually follow people on Twitter that have something to say and is related to my career. I always found it interesting when people just followed everyone.
So when this twitterer recently “followed” me, I was intrigued. he or she (I’m assuming she due to the image) is trying an experiment. She is trying to figure out how many people just blindly follow people without checking out the content of twitterer.
When I last checked, this person was following over 5900 people with 155 reciprocating.
This raises an interesting question about the psychology of following. When I first started Twitter, I felt that I had to follow everyone who followed me. Otherwise, I would be dissing someone.
Now I don’t necessarily follow everyone – I just don’t have the brain power to process that many people. I will also occasionally unfollow folks who haven’t really participated in conversations.
I think it’s key to recognize that social media can increase one’s social network. Just remember, you can only create a nework that YOU’RE comfortable with. YOU create the network. It doesn’t create you.
3 Comments
April 22, 2008 at 09:25
Hi there,
I have my profile on lockdown because I use a 3rd party app (Twhirl) for which I only receive 60-90% o all tweets from people I follow anyway (worst at peak usage times among people I follow). Thus, relevancy from acquaintances and friends I know is of utmost importance.
As a result, I feel truly more connected to the folks I follow because the interest is mutual (though there are a few renegade folks I want to say – hey, we met and know each other, follow me back!
). Secondly, the entire experience is much more productive with far fewer and more relevant follow requests. Over the last 3 weeks I started getting more spammers following, to which I got email notifications, then had to review their profile for interest in deciding to follow. All of that was killing my time!
I don’t want to be considered rude or unfriendly by having such a policy, but I’m beginning to regard Twitter relationships like a trusted email policy.
April 22, 2008 at 18:00
Hi Mario,
I haven’t looked into the 3rd party apps yet – I want to. One place to receive updates would be great. But you’re right, the time to qualify prospective followers is killing me.
Do you think Twitter will have to deal with the spammers soon or risk losing people jumping ship? Interesting question indeed….
April 23, 2008 at 23:02
Good post. I’m just getting into Twitter, which I’ve heard described as spam proof, since you choose who you follow.
Some of us attended the recent RSA conference, and hooked into some media opportunities through the Twitter feed some reporters were putting out.