My mother-in-law once commented about her confusion as to why her daughter would spend all that time text messaging with her friends when she had the phone in her hand and could just call (for goodness sakes!). I explained to her the aspect of text messaging that made it truly appealing, especially to younger people: it’s is a way to carry on a conversation without a long term commitment.

Imagine you share a domicile with a friend. If the friend is there, you will talk to them when you have the opportunity and the desire. If you lack either of those then you won’t communicate. If the person leaves the room then opportunity goes away. If the person is there, but you don’t have anything to say then the desire is gone.

The same is true with text messaging (I’m getting to Twitter – hold your horses). In a world where text messaging is available, you erase the opportunity element.  The other person is essentially always in the room and desire is now the only element.  If a person is busy, the don’t have to engage in the text with you, and for the most part no one’s feelings get hurt.  In addition a text message conversation can go on for hours when chance allows.  If you try to substitute in a phone conversation you get hours of dead air where you wonder what the other person is doing that is more important than continuing this conversation…

Twitter takes the concept of text messaging to the next level.  It takes 140 charachters at a time and puts them on public display – short and to the point.  You can follow only a few people, make friends with fellow professionals, or just talk to yourself.  The key concept is that you’re sharing yourself a very little bit at a time.  No long prepared oration.  Just simple lines of notice.  Get to the point, and do it fast.