I have become addicted to Twitter. The idea of being able to send out my most random thoughts into the technological world is extremely enticing and exciting. I am no longer the passive audience member, I am the producer of my own news. I find that using Twitter is such a phenomenon that its practices get translated into normal activities. I find that during a socially tragic conversation I will say "#fail", knowing very well that the hash-tag is doing nothing in face to face conversation. This was one of the indications that I had become addicted.
Now that I can admit my addiction, which is the first step, I can move on to examining the source of this attachment to tweeting. It is extremely important to recognize the limitations of free speech on Twitter. Last month it was announced that all tweets would be archived by Congress and this new development is extremely frightening. You begin to wonder, "what did I tweet about during the Grammy Awards?" or even "what did I tweet when I was upset with someone?". The question then becomes, to tweet or not to tweet. I believe that all people should be aware of what they are putting on the internet. They should monitor their speech and make better decisions about what is appropriate and what is not appropriate. Should you tweet about what you did last night if it is unacceptable behavior? Should you tweet your every thought and action? No! You shouldn't. While tweeting I try to practice discretion and tact. Everyone should acknowledge the fact that nothing you put on the internet is private, and nothing disappears. It doesn't go to a black hole of internet information, it stays for perpetuity. Remember, its not tweets that ruins lives, its irresponsible tweets that ruin lives.
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