After reading Peggy Orenstein’s article, “I Tweet, Therefore I am,” I began to ponder about the difference between externalized thought (published via a 140 character post on twitter) and personal insight. We, as the writers of our own twitter account, decide what thought or moment is worthy of posting about. We also contemplate, rather quickly, how best to phrase it. Before the age of social media, someone who made these types of decisions regarding published content would have been considered an editor. Now, it can even be Joe from the dairy mart. Like most people, I felt an urge to move with the changing tides and I created a twitter a few months ago, which is updated regularly.
When evaluating my own twitter posts and interactions, I’ve found that the lines between public and personal are blurred. The content can be something very meaningful for us, but we know very well that the tweet will be seen be others. However, this can be very influential. We can use our words to evoke change, help others out when they need a specific question answered, or in turn, discover something new that we never expected.
Orenstein discussed a specific fear. What if everything we hold personal, we make public? She questioned, “When every thought is externalized, what becomes of insight? When we reflexively post each feeling, what becomes of reflection? When friends become fans, what happens to intimacy?” While her questions greatly interest me, I stick to the belief that it is completely the writer’s choice what he, or she, makes public. I may not tell the world about a very personal family issue, but I could tweet about an earthquake, as it shakes the ground beneath my feet.