Smartphones and Social Media: Twitter

Doesn’t it seem like everyone has a smartphone these days? I see people using their smartphone walking around the San Jose State campus, at the movies, or even the gym. It seems like everyone is on one. But what are they doing on them?

I know there are millions of things to do, but one of my favorite things to do is to access my key social media sites via my phone. Increasingly, the smartphone is becoming part of our tool box, even for career information.

This post is the first of two short reviews on my favorite social media apps that I use on my phone.

The tool that I absolutely use every day via my phone is Twitter. In fact I rarely if ever access it via my PC. Previously I have blogged about Twitter and how important it is to my work. For the sake of this post, I will simply speak about the Twitter client I use for my iPhone, which is aptly called Twitter for iPhone.

Do you use your phone to access social media?

If you want to learn about Twitter apps for other platforms, this top 8 Twitter mobile apps list is a great start.

One of the great reasons for using a Twitter client application is that once you start following a large number of people it is hard to manage the influx of tweets that come in. However, apps like Twitter for iPhone allow you to create lists which allow you to group people of common interest. For instance, I have groups that include career information as well as groups that talk about sports.

Also, if you don’t feel like creating your own lists, you can follow other people’s lists. Lists also allow you to add someone to your list but not follow them. This is a great way to keep your timeline uncluttered especially if you follow people that tweet heavily.

Another aspect I like about the Twitter mobile applications is that they allow you the freedom to instantly tweet and search for information. I don’t need to be sitting at a desk or even at my laptop.

I love the ability to quickly search or tweet via my phone during a break at work or even while I am grabbing a cup of coffee. There have been a few times that I have heard something on the radio in my car, tweeted while walking into work about the subject (after I parked), and received a response or a helpful link shortly.

In a way, it’s like having the ability to tap into a network that can provide you with research or information all quickly via your phone, while allowing me the freedom to be anywhere I want to be.

Personally, I love using my iPhone and Twitter, but I am sure that some of you can find some pros and cons for this subject. Here are a few of mine:

Pros:

• Real-time search
• Top tweets
• Trending topics and maps show what’s happening and where
• Share photos, videos, and links

Cons:

• You may be increasing your connectivity, which is a positive and a negative
• While on your phone, there is more room for error (typos, mislinks, etc.)
• Your significant other may get annoyed at you if you are constantly on your phone