Why Are People Anti-Twitter?

twitter1 I have been using Twitter for about a year and a half now. I love it because it allows me to network with new friends, other bloggers and media professionals and keep a level of anonymity that social media sites like Facebook and Myspace lacks.

Yes you divulge personal details on Twitter, but it doesn’t give your “Tweeps” (aka followers) access to your photos and other personal information that you can find in Facebook. I like learning from the people I follow, and having the opportunity to share my work with more people than I can just by posting the link on Facebook. It widens my potential audience, and that is always one of my main goals.

It is also a fun way to meet new people and to gain new insights and observe human interaction. As a fiction writer that is always a bonus. To me Twitter is a no brainer. Now it is growing and “mainstream” user numbers are rising. That means non-bloggers and media people are joining the Twitter masses.

However, I am seeing a lot of resistance on Facebook to Twitter, and I’m not sure where the negative opinions are coming from. I get that in a world where Myspace and Facebook are king, people may not be all about another social based website. Even I have pretty much abandoned my poor Myspace page. It was too much work and there was too much drama for me to keep up with. I prefer Facebook. Actually, adding Twitter really has not made too much additional work. My Twitter updates automatically update my Facebook page. Yes, I have to take the time keep up with my Twitter followers, but at 140 characters per post it really isn’t that bad.

Even if you are not a blogger, social media person, or use Twitter for professional purposes, networking is key to everyone. It never hurts to know more people in your field. In an economy where essentially no job is recession proof, knowing people in your field who may be able to connect you with even contract work is key. It is also a great place to learn more about your field and interest. People post links to their work and to things they find interesting. If you use Twitter properly, it is a great tool and a great way to learn and grow.

Obviously, I am very biased. I have reaped rewards from my use of Twitter. I see all the possibilities for using the service, and any fears or apprehension I had are long gone. Do you use Twitter? Do you use it for professional or just personal purposes? If not, why do you choose not to.