How Twitter Encourages Speed Amongst Users

Twitter is a fast-moving vehicle. The speed limit is not marked but I know it moves quickly. I am a passenger in the vehicle on a daily basis, posting tweets, the special name for Twitter messages, and following other users. The website designers are grouped behind the steering wheel.

The social media application is a fast-moving network in itself, continually evolving with updates and modifications. The speed that I refer to here in the speed required by the Twitter userto keep up with the action.

The Twitter electronic feed is continuous. Click the 'Home' icon at the top of the screen and wait a few seconds. A grouped message of the number of new Tweets arriving to the feed will soon appear.

New Tweets continue to enter the stream of words and users as my network furiously sends out messages within the 140 character maximum. The speed limit is likely increasing by the second.

Click a link of interest in the feed and be taken to a new window showing the article, photo, or other novelty item that caught my eye. Once read, get ready to try to merge back into the traffic of the feed. Put on the turn signal and strap on the seat-belt. The seat-belt, by the way, is optional but recommended for users.

My eyes dart to the stream, trying to find where I left it moments ago. Who originally sent the tweet that caught my eye and triggered me to click my mouse for the link? Catch up to the original post and I have found my starting position.

The skimming of tweets for valuable information is a speedy process for the mind, the eyes, and the finger on the pulse of the mouse beside the keyboard.

My eyes dart between the tweets, quickly reading through 'mentions' or tweets that include my user name. Once read, move to the new followers list. I make sure that each person has been analysed, within a matter of a few seconds, to see if I wish to follow back.

Do not forget to check the people that Twitter suggests are similar to my profile. These are people I am encouraged to add as followers that appear to the left side of my feed. Do so in between skimming the feed and choosing what to read. There is little time.

The visual stimuli is large and moving by the second. The result is the racing eyes of the user, followed by a racing mind.

My heartbeat quickens as I realize that, while responding to mentions and adding new followers, I have also received new tweets and direct messages. Given that many Twitter accounts have hundreds of followers, my own being no exception, this is a common occurrence.

The ping-pong action begins as I respond to tweets, keep up to date on followers, and check direct messages too. The process is fast and I lose track of time. I wonder if it is poor etiquette to not respond to someone's tweet or direct message within the day?

The person to whom I am tweeting is in a rush, there is not much time to give them the information. The 140 character limit makes the process difficult. I feel hurried.

Ping-pong action, a finger perched on the mouse button, and darting eyes are key features of much of the Twitter activity. Twitter is a fast-moving social media platform without a set speed limit.

Hold on and get ready for the ride. I don't think seat-belts are yet required. I'll sign out now and log back in tomorrow morning.