Here’s the truth: Twitter has become a corporate media. Now here’s the question: are we to rejoice?
It was a niche outlet to start. For those who understood the potential of social media in 2006 and a place to share ideas, emphasizing brevity. With a little patience, it took off, and has increasingly made an impact on the way that all of us, all over the world, communicate with each other, with brands, and I think most significantly, with most other media.
We’ve heard it before. That nowadays, we’re more likely to hear breaking news off of Twitter than newspapers, television or radio. It’s something that’s pretty darn revolutionary, and is without a doubt, the reason Twitter is certainly on a corporate level now.
I’m not so sure if that’s a good thing, however. With “coporate-ness” comes politics and laws to adhere to. It means that because the big powers of the world are paying attention, that there will always be restrictions and difficulties to manage for Twitter. To ensure that these powers are satisfied.
The latest? This from Mashable, where it’s reported that Twitter “is giving itself the right to withhold content in specific countries, while keeping that content available for the rest of the world.”
It’s a setback for Twitter, definitely. Especially after this platform was pivotal in the Iranian election protests and revolution in 2009. When it was the source for protesters to organize, have their voices heard, and to break the restraints on freedom of expression in Iran and other countries alike.
Instead of continuing to fight the boundaries that other media conglomerates confine to, I’m afraid that Twitter is giving in. So to answer the question from before, no. We should not rejoice.
