The Twitter Obsession: Theory of Formula

Film makers have long used a type of formula in an attempt to make a successful movie. If you look at the modern day romantic comedies you can see the formula at play – boy meets girl, boy befriends girl, girl dates other guy, girl realizes her error, boy gets girl. There are also certain components to the formula that must be included for it to be successful – chemistry, another genre (sports, action, period piece), and of course a good story line. The theory of formula can also be applied to social media outlets, but in a different way.

I found it difficult to theorize about a formula for Twitter, likely because it is not as obvious as my first example. However, after researching why Twitter is successful, I began to see how it would be possible to use a formula to ensure its success. Here is the formula that I theorize could be applied:

·         Ease of use – Twitter had to be designed simply so anyone could use it with little or no training.

·         Easier to read than a blog – with the limited character count, instant online connection, notification system Twitter is easier to use over a blog.

·         Generates interest – People are always interested in what their friends are saying or doing. Twitter gives them a way to satisfy that interest quickly.

·         In tune with pop culture – let’s face it, the target audience called the always-connected generation thrives on pop culture. Twitter allows them to follow their favorite celebrity which gives them a false feeling of friendship with them. That false sense of friendship will keep people coming back to Twitter.

·         Social connection – Twitter can create a feeling of social connection to hundreds of people in many ways. One way is the Twitter friends that you gain which makes a person feel popular. Another way is connecting with other people using Twitter; it gives us something to talk about.

Looking for a formula has made me think differently about Twitter and Facebook as well. We do gain a false sense of security, almost a feeling that people do care about our lives and what we have to say. In reality, many people follow each other on Twitter simply to gain more followers themselves, which is a popularity contest of sorts. There are ways these social media outlets use their formula to bring in more users which will also bring in more earnings for them. In the end, it’s all about the bottom line for companies such as Twitter.