Why Twitter Has Failed

To a certain extent Twitter is a mass failure. Andy DeSoto points out hints of Twitter’s failure thus far with “What the iPhone Application Store tells us about Twitter”. While Twitter is a major hit within our web bubble, it’s a major failure in the real world.
Twitter and Mainstream Success
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Twitter. I’m considered one of the “go-to” women for Twitter advice, apps, and more. I’ve done so many Twitter posts and reviews that I’ve had to give it its own category. So, guess what? I not only love Twitter, but I understand Twitter. While Twitter enjoys it’s meager success from a wide variety of users, they’re all in the same bubbles: Tech, Design, PR. Twitter really doesn’t go very far outside of these bubbles. The mainstream users of Myspace and Facebook have little to no clue about Twitter. And while it has been picking up mentions in the press, it hasn’t been picking up in mainstream usage.

Over two years later and Twitter is still a small phenomenon. I wouldn’t recommend anyone outside of the aforementioned bubbles to get on Twitter because the focus of conversations and communities are very specific to those bubbles and their latest topics/gossips. Twitter is practically useless for anyone who wants to learn more about dancing ballet or riding horses. While it can extend into these niches, it hasn’t. It hasn’t caught on and spread into other industries besides the one that gave it its wings.
Preaching To The Choir
All in all, Twitter’s been preaching to the same choir for over two years. If that’s not a failure on the mainstream scale, I don’t know what is. Twitter isn’t a failure overall. It’s not dying, nor am I predicting its demise. I’m simply stating that Twitter has yet to achieve success in the real world of mainstream users with way more eclectic tastes than those users in the bubbles that are already on Twitter.

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2 RESPONSES TO "WHY TWITTER HAS FAILED"

peijin

do you think that the "bubbles" theory extends to Twitter users in other countries and using other languages? I mostly use Twitter in English, but I live in China and so our demographic (other english speakers in China) is a bit different. And i wonder how people in other countries use it. I know that Twitter clones in China are not as "bubble-esque" in their demographic--lots of people use them, just to talk about life or let off steam at work, etc.

August 13, 2008 1:37 am
Rea

I would have to agree with this. I myself love Twitter. I actually learn a lot and get many news/tech updates through Twitter.

I'm somewhat of a techie so I fall into a bubble. But none of my friends use it at all. I mentioned Twitter when I was with a group of friends and the conversation immediately switched to Facebook. For me, Twitter is a combination of RSS feeds and IM'ing.

It could definitely be utilized by the masses if they would promote it more.

August 19, 2008 8:32 pm

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