Blog about Twitterland Article (Meanland: the radical terrain of social media)

Twitter and most forms of social media are creating new ways of immediately spreading information, and voicing one’s opinion.  I think with this there comes many advantages but also some disadvantages.  Like the article said it can be used to spread information faster than ever before.  Twitter just provides listeners to people who have something to say, but I think problems may arise as we get more and more information available how can we determine what is the truth.  It is much easier to make a statement using a false identity.  People now have the ability to create a whole new virtual persona, or say exactly what they’re thinking at any time.  I think it makes people think twice about their actions, knowing that  they may eventually be posted for everyone to see, judge, and discuss.

In the past, the media has had the control over what issues are discussed and what is given importance.  After Twitter and other forms of social media have been created, the internet can now be used as a tool to spread information, discuss it and to organize events to take action.  Does Twitter monitor what is said by their users, and how does this affect or right to freedom of speech?

I find it interesting that there are still grey areas with Twitter and the law.  Can the information someone posts of Twitter, if it could be tracked back to the original author, could it be used against the person in court?  Couldn’t the person argue the posts were all just for entertainment purposes?  Especially since one can take up any identity on Twitter, or change their username or real name at anytime.  I think its good that Twitter works to protect the user’s personal information, but if the government decided that it wanted this information would Twitter have to comply?