Twitter as a Community Tool

I am really excited that folks are digging the Twitter article I wrote for Lifehack.org. It’s funny, because this morning, I had another in mind, but it wouldn’t fit for that site, so here you have it: Twitter as a Community Tool.

If Twitter Had Groups

If Twitter had groups, I could join the “Traveling Media Group,” and offer up my camera services and on-the-ground reporting for the various places I travel. If Twitter had groups, I could join the “PodCamp Group,” and talk with people about PodCamp only things, or talk when I was at PodCamp. I could join the “Massachusetts Group,” and get localized Twitters from folks who might know about a car accident or a cool event going on.

Twitter from SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a popular conference going on right now in Austin, TX. I couldn’t go this year, as our popular conference is only a few days after it. But I’m living out the experiences there in real time, as my friends all get together, search for parties, report which parties stink and which ones have a long line to get in. I got up-to-the-minute chatter that made me feel like I was hanging out there.

Imagine what Twitter would do at your event, were everyone so inclined to use it? Twitter at a marathon would be useful. Twitter at a big office complex could be helpful, too. Twitter all over the MIT campus? That would work.

Twittering for Specific Causes

I’ve seen Twitter used as a casual fundraiser, as a crowd maker, as a quick friendsourcer. Could you use Twitter to drive the web around? Could you use it to solve code problems faster? Could you use it for collaboration on something you’re trying to work through quickly?

What am I Missing and What is Twitter Missing?

I’m probably missing some obvious uses for Twitter. More so, Twitter is missing a groups function. What else would be useful in that case? How could we make Twitter into a community tool for your own needs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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