Just because Twitter has more than 200 million users doesn’t mean it’s a tool for everyone.
In fact, there are some people who just shouldn’t use Twitter because it gets them in hot water more than it helps them build a personal brand, promote a business, or provide valuable or interesting content.
A case in point is Toronto councillor John Parker, who seems to think Twitter is a platform to opine about “hot chicks”. Not that there is anything wrong with hot chicks or using Twitter to talk about hot chicks but not when you’re an elected official with a high profile.
Parker’s stumbles and bumbles on Twitter may be light-hearted but it clearly shows he has no clue about the inappropriateness of “hot chicks” tweets or the downside of Twitter given what gets said on Twitter goes way beyond Twitter.
Parker joins a long list of politicians, athletes and celebrities who should be told “Sorry, no Twitter for you”. It’s like giving the car keys to a teenager who proceeds to drive recklessly. At some point, you have to ask for the keys back.
The problem with Twitter it requires little or no thought to tweet. It plays right into our multi-tasking, impulse-purchase world. You think or do something, you instantly tweet it – damn the consequences, implications or fallout.
It explains why most tweets are value-less, inane or digital flotsam that would be left untweeted. I suggest there be a tweet-meter that measures the goofiness of tweets. If tweets fall before a certain level, you’re on probation. If the bad behaviour contents, you’re banned from Twitter.
Some people should stay away or walk away from Twitter to save themselves and protect the rest of us from their digital noise.
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