Twitter: Network or Podium

Written on February 6, 2011 by Todd in Social Networking

Networking at The Royale Tweetup

Twitter: Network or Podium

Twitter is labeled a social networking tool. Wikipedia defines a social network as:

a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called “nodes”, which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.

That’s a mouthful, covering many types of networks.

Podiums are platforms that raise one above the crowd. Paraphrased from Wikipedia.

Simpler but the differences are many.

So which is twitter to me? It’s definitely in the social network category. I’m a node with ties to many other nodes. Most ties not only go both ways, but parallel others. Rarely is a node in the network with a single tie in.

Podiums implies a one to many relationship, and may imply a single direction tie, i.e. speaker or preacher to a crowd or assembly. Podium implies active listeners, people on the other end coming along willingly ‘for a time’. Here’s the rub on Twitter. Some folks never leave the podium to join in the more common type of networking, many to many.

Podium use is a special case of social networking on Twitter. During a certain chat session, one may be a leader, sharing links, notes, and idea while others merely listen. Twitter isn’t a simple room where there’s one microphone, one method to share, or systems in place to limit connections, say as in a meeting hall. It doesn’t long abide a lone voice that doesn’t interact.

Sure, that person may gather up followers, as people hope for a nugget here and there. Time though brings a lack of interest. That speaker on the podium only has so much to say that hasn’t been heard or isn’t better absorbed on another platform. People go back to active networking, creating ties with other nodes, destroying some, and just exercising others.

Maybe it is the lack of built in rules and structures that leads to this bit of chaos. I’d say though it’s organic and living, messy but self organizing. Twitter folks, the nodes, each have intrinsic value by connecting; each brings a unique bit of DNA to the organism.

Does the occasional node stand out and speak to the rest of the network? Sure. It happens. Is it the norm? Not at all. Soon that voice (node) is drowned out and it’s connected nodes move on to more energetic and life giving connections. In practice, people are drawn to interaction more than listening.

So network or podium? It’s clear to me that Twitter can be a podium for some. It isn’t either. Does it last? Is it a profitable use of your time? I’ll let you decide.

While you’re thinking about it, I’ll keep working to add value to my node so that people forming ties to me don’t regret punching that button.

Network.Share.Listen.

Post inspired by #UsGuys thread, with @youternmark & @danenow involved in setting topic & organizing the effort. Many minds contributed as well, and drove this from chatter to a regular blogging exercise, #usblogs.

Related posts:

Twitter: Network vs. Podium by Sam Fiorella. @Samfiorella
Twitter: Podium vs. Network by Heather A. Taylor. @heatherAtaylor
Twitter: Social Network, Podium… or Billboard? by Mark Babbit. @Youternmark
Save 140: Just say NO! To Deck.Ly by Tom Moradpour. @TomMoradpour
Podium or Network? Twitter Really Is An MMORPG by Tom Moradpour. @TomMoradpour
Mad As Hell Podium Or Network by Kenny Rose. @Grit08
Social Media: The Podium, The Network And More by Paul Biedermann. @PaulBiedermann
Twitter: Podium or Network by Sean McGinnis. @SeanMcGinnis
I Have A Tweet by Patrick Prothe. @pprothe
#usguys on Twitter: A Newbie’s Perspective by Libby Baker Sweiger. @libbytalks
#usguys And Twitter: We’re A Network Not A Podium by Jackie Coughlan. @jackinessity
Is Twitter A Virtual Soap Box Or Town Hall? by Karen E. Lund. @Karen5Lund
Are You Wearing a Shinny White Suit by Freddie Winkler. @LeFreddie
Twitter: Podium or Network by Rabab Khan. @RababKhan

Additional Resources:

100K Tweets Onwards and Upwards (toddrjordan.com)

Karen E. Lund

Didn't Twitter's founders say it's not a social network? Admittedly most people (including me) think it is and we certainly use it as such.

share flag

spam
offensive
disagree
off topic

tojosan

They say they aren't a social network. I'd partially agree. They are a social networking platform or system. Twitter enables social networking.

isabella mori

maybe we could also add: shoebox. there is SO much retweeting going on right now, people (me including) throwing links and sayings about like a kid on a birthday party all hopped up on sugar, spraying a watergun, getting everyone wet. it's fun for a short while, and then you just want to go home. that's one of the reasons why i haven't been on twitter much lately. YOU, mr tojosan, are a prime and wonderful example of a networker!!!

rereading this i see, once again, the danger of replying too fast and without deliberation (another hallmark of social media). what's with the shoebox and the watergun? what i'm trying to say is that there is too much of an element of thoughtless randomness right now. like the guy who throws all his receipts in a shoebox, or that kid at the birthday party.

Now I totally get the shoe box analogy! I'd wager that describes most folks, especially the newest ones to join Twitter. They just throw any and everything in without rhyme or reason. Of course, I'm likely to throw in things I think might be interesting or funny. I usually don't try to resend though. If folks don't get it the first time, not sure they could with a repeat. Ha. Thanks for dropping in and giving us another point of view. Be sure to check out the #usguys chatter on Twitter.

paulswansen

So are Nodes, Podium's and are Podium's, Nodes? And are either, synchronous, asynchronous, push or pull communications or conversations.

Nodes can be used as Podiums in my viewpoint. Effective in short bursts on specific topics with interested parties. :) You on the other hand, are a networked node podium push-me pull-me two headed communicator. Um. Nah. You're a great guy.

RababKhan

"I’m a node with ties to many other nodes." iLove this line! Completely encapsulates what you're trying to say. People who don't descend from their platforms to mingle with the "crowd" usually find themselves out in the cold, especially when they aren't as good as they think they are.

Thanks for dropping by, and organizing all of these #UsGuys #UsBlogs posts. Glad you liked that quote. Really is how I feel. As often as I preach against it, it's funny to find myself on a high horse on occasion. Most times though, I prefer to mix it up. Cheers, Todd

YOU, mr tojosan, are a prime and wonderful example of a networker!!!

rereading this i see, once again, the danger of replying too fast and without deliberation (another hallmark of social media).

what's with the shoebox and the watergun?

what i'm trying to say is that there is too much of an element of thoughtless randomness right now. like the guy who throws all his receipts in a shoebox, or that kid at the birthday party.

Now I totally get the shoe box analogy! I'd wager that describes most folks, especially the newest ones to join Twitter. They just throw any and everything in without rhyme or reason.

Of course, I'm likely to throw in things I think might be interesting or funny. I usually don't try to resend though. If folks don't get it the first time, not sure they could with a repeat. Ha.

Thanks for dropping in and giving us another point of view. Be sure to check out the #usguys chatter on Twitter.

Nodes can be used as Podiums in my viewpoint. Effective in short bursts on specific topics with interested parties. :)

You on the other hand, are a networked node podium push-me pull-me two headed communicator. Um. Nah. You're a great guy.

Thanks for dropping by, and organizing all of these #UsGuys #UsBlogs posts.

Glad you liked that quote. Really is how I feel.

As often as I preach against it, it's funny to find myself on a high horse on occasion. Most times though, I prefer to mix it up.

Cheers,
Todd

Tweets that mention Twitter: Network or Podium | The Broad Brush -- Topsy.com says:

February 6, 2011 at 11:12 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sherree , RababKhan. RababKhan said: Reading: Twitter Podium or network. http://t.co/bIS244c and http://bit.ly/dQcTXm #usblogs #usguys [...]

#USGuys Blogging Weekends OneRabab Khan | Rabab Khan says:

February 6, 2011 at 12:04 pm

[...] Blog Post by Todd Jordan. @Tojosan [...]

February 7, 2011 at 5:19 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Aurora, Paul Tunnah. Paul Tunnah said: RT @aurorahealthpr: Is twitter a podium or a network? http://ow.ly/3RsGx #hcsmeu #nhssm ^GD [...]

Podium or Network? Twitter Really Is A MMORPG says:

February 7, 2011 at 9:17 am

[...] Twitter: Network or Podium by Todd Jordan. @Tojosan [...]

#UsBlogs: Welcome To #UsGuys Weekly Blogging Game! says:

February 7, 2011 at 9:42 am