Twitter - How Mainstream Is It Really?
During a recent trip to the movies to see Quantum of Solace, Twitter was mentioned in a Walmart ad before the movie started. Twitter was also mentioned on a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory. On that show, I get it. Every nerd I know loves that show. But in a Walmart ad?
There is one other thing that I noticed. During both Twitter mentions, Facebook was also mentioned. In both instances, Facebook was mentioned first, then Twitter. Are the two now tied together somehow in the way that mainstream media view the social aspect of the web?
In as much as both of these services are a part of my everyday life, I know many people who have never heard of Facebook or at least have no idea what it is. And most of the people I know have no idea what Twitter is until I tell them. Some of these people actually work in the tech industry.
It makes me wonder if the mainstream media is not finding it harder to connect with their audience. It seems that they are grasping at buzzwords. But then again, I guess this is nothing new. My concern is this. It seems that things change dramtically when the mainstream gets hold of it. Can these services take the pressure that being a household name will bring or will they burn out like stars going supernova? Only time will tell.
Very interesting observation and question. Most things, it seems tend to drift away from their original intent and purpose as they become more popular and mainstream. It does not take a lotof imagination to see this happening to Twitter. When I saw CNN using it interactively, I thought it made sense… Wal-Mart… that sounds a bit to commercial for my tastes. Although, I’m the one who wrote an article about how well Zappos uses it, and they sell shoes… so what do I know
[...] Walmart, in an attempt to be cool with those who are young and hip, mentioned Facebook and Twitter in an advertisment. But they are [...]
My thoughts on the Twitter piece would be the age old egg before the chicken theory… what came first with respect to marketing? And who is it that’s connecting those dots??? And finally, how many are seriously paying attention?
Just some thoughts I had…
alisa