I already know what you're thinking. Yes, you have seen this title before and no, I am not trying to secretly pass off old articles as new ones.I respect your intelligence more than that. The piece that rings a bell is in fact 'To Blog or Not to Blog' where I took you through the ins and outs of blogging. In the name of all things internet related, I have decided to carry on with my website profiling but this time, it's all about Twitter, because let's face i, you can never be too short of ways to waste your time.Our method of procrastination this week initially started off as Facebook's geeky and unknown classmate. Many people thought of Twitter as another feeble attempt to steal the social networking number one spot, which would inevitably fade away like a week-old headline. However, Twitter soon proved it wasn't disappearing that quickly and over time, it has blossomed into that popular and attractive friend who everyone wants to speak to. The main appeal of the site and probably why it hasn't crumbled yet is because it doesn't try to be like Facebook. Whilst Mark Zuckeberg's creation is based around catching up with friends, Twitter is all about discussion through the form of mini-blogging. I have to admit that at first, the idea of documenting your every move to strangers was something I found rather odd. I mean, did everyone really need to know what colour I had decided to paint my nails' And so, what if you had stepped out of your house with a pimple the size of a beach ball on your face' Well, actually that would be quite funny to know, but you get my point. Nonetheless, I soon realised the huge benefit behind this infringement on privacy: community. Yes, we may all know what you wore to work today but sharing is caring right' Nothing makes you closer to someone than bonding over secrets and after sharing your life stories with users over the web, it all begins to feel like you are in one big, happy, cyber family. The success of Twitter is evident in its global use. People everywhere, from Italy to India are putting their names behind the '@' sign. Even celebrities, never one to miss out on a public relations opportunity have jumped on the bandwagon. However, if you are still wondering what could be so great about an online communal diary, then here are four reasons for why you should become a tweeter:Reason No 1: Hot Off The Press NewsOver time, Twitter has served as my personal news correspondent, with many tweeters happy to spill what they heard through the grapevine unto my timeline. News travels fast, but it seems to do so even faster on Twitter. I first discovered about both the death of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi via the website. And who can forget the momentous announcement of Beyonce's pregnancy a few months ago' Within an hour or so, it had become the largest trending topic on Twitter with over 8,000 users tweeting about it per second. Of course, you can't always take Twitter as the gospel truth and sometimes you need to check tweets before you claim them as legitimate sources. However, it's always nice to know that you don't have to switch CNN on first to hear about what's going on in the world. Reason No 2: Entertainment Factor Is it pathetic to admit that I have had some of my biggest laughs whilst watching what people tweet over the internet' Well, it's true. If you are looking for a good night's worth of entertainment, buy your popcorn and log unto Twitter. The interactivity of the website means a joke is never too far of a tweet away and there is always someone on the other side of the internet wall for you to share your views with. This enhances certain experiences such as watching television where you can comment on what is going on during your favourite programmes. It also means you always have a place to go and converse when you are feeling lonely or just plain bored. It's like the best friend you never had; only this one doesn't force you to share your food or make you feel guilty when you forget their birthday.Reason No 3: Debates and DisputesThere is something about expressing yourself in 140 characters and having a certain number of 'followers' which makes people genuinely believe that they have become the modern day answer to Gandhi. Although this means at times your Twitter timeline may resemble a missing page from a Philosophy textbook, you get to witness some first hand, thought-provoking debates. This is great if you are feeling particularly scholarly that day and want to join in. It's also great when tweeters' opinions clash and you get front row seats to a live tweet-off. There is something priceless about seeing people getting worked up over such an obscure topic, like the meaning of wearing socks for example.Reason No 4: Global FriendshipsFor most users, the majority of friends on their Facebook are people they already knew (even if vaguely) before. On Twitter however, you have the opportunity to speak to random users tweeting from the other side of the globe. It's not an uncommon thing to become good friends with users on Twitter; I have even known a story of two people who fell in love because of the site. Whilst I am not advising you to go and meet up with every single one of your followers, at least you know you have another way of extending your circle of friends without even having to leave the comfort of your own four walls. If my powers of persuasion are any good then these four reasons have been enough to convince those of you who haven't already, to join in on the tweeting frenzy. I think it is only fitting to end this article however, with an unashamedly brazen plug for my own twitter account. Follow me '@lola_lawal'. I look forward to seeing you on there!
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