Twitter Identity Crises

Twitter has been under fire recently and not just from malevolent hackers. It seems that the trendy social networking and microblogging site is experiencing somewhat of an identity crises as it battles both the fickleties of trend hopping young users and like so many at this time, a shortage of cash.

Attacks and fraud directed at the site have become rife and as the concerned depart the format, an even greater need for advertising derived revenue might fuel the exodus. Loyal users are a rare commodity; facebook and Youtube have found that out. Few if any of the online community would tolerate a constant influx of advertisements or alternately consider paying a subscription charge to continue Twittering.

Isn’t it more likely that we, as a society might revaluate our need for and expectations of social networking? I like many have little or no interest in knowing the minute by minute activities of even those closest to me in my social circle. We have the mobile phone and email for that do we not?

If Twitter is to become an advertising vehicle then it seems only sensible that Twitter allows advertisements to be channelled according to its user’s predefined preferences. Simply selling ad space to the highest bidder would seem counterproductive to the longevity of the portal. These are decisions that Business and individuals will need to considerer as new investors are fought over, unlike the late 90’s investors are now savvy to trends and in the driving seat .

How long will it be before the uberbrand Google beat social networking to death with it’s own stick by reinventing the concept and having the cash to keep it going?