Is Europe sleeping through the Twitter revolution?

Published
by
Ivo Spigel
  on  March 18, 2009
  in  Facts, figures & trends
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twitter_logo2We’re all used to the fact that most trends, paradigm shifts and business model disruptions originate in the US, and then, sometimes quickly and sometimes more slowly, make there way across the Atlantic, first to Western and then gradually to Central and Eastern Europe. I wonder – is the same thing happening with Twitter?

For those who might not be familiar with it, Twitter is a microblogging tool which allows users to post remarks of 140 characters at a time – clearly meant to be used via SMS as well as “normally” from desktop or mobile Web browsers. I’ve been actively using Twitter for several weeks now and have found it fascinating (note: I’ve completely skipped Facebook until two days ago, but that’s a different story). As a Twitter user I’ve found that the people I follow, as well as those that follow me, fall into two main geographical areas – those very near me (i.e. from Zagreb and some from Croatia) and those exactly one ocean away, in the US.

It’s not that I haven’t tried. I’ve searched Twitter looking for some of the people from my European network, as well as prominent European high-tech people I might know or might have heard about. Well – not much there. In fact I’ve prompted some of my nowEurope friends (Steve, Wolfgang) to join and they’ve been happily tweeting (Twitter-ese for “posting”) since.

So I’m wondering – is Europe sleeping through the Twitter revolution or is it just my impression???

Interested nowEurope folk might want to wander over to www.twitter.com to take a first step (caution: it can be addictive!) and / or search the Web for innumerable “beginner’s guides” to Twitter.

  • Have a look at Twitter buzz graph at http://royal.pingdom.com/2009/03/12/the-countri...

    My impression is it takes 2 things for Twitter to be popular in a country. First is some top non-tech celebrity users. Second is active promotion by traditional media channels, eg TV and radio show hosts and series.

    When you look at UK Twitter usage, you see both many celebrities as well as the likes of BBC promoting their Twitter accounts many times a day on media reaching tens of millions of people.

    So for any European country: get some TV and radio shows to solicit feedback and interact with their users on Twitter, and get some celebrities to use it.

    My Twitter username: jkaljundi
  • Steven Carlson
    I'm now more active on Twitter, Ivo, but I can't say I'm a raving fan. I must be following the wrong people, because much of my Twitter feed is simply irrelevant to me. However, I just unsubscribed from Scobolizer, so perhaps that situation will improve.

    Nobody likes to be left behind by the latest revolution, least of all me. I just set up a Wordpress plugin that automatically feeds new post over to a new Twitter account I set up for nowEurope.

    http://twitter.com/noweurope
  • I never used twitter, so far. I am a sleeping European. (Sorry, but I haven´t got the time - too much new plattforms and communities - where to begin?)
  • Hi Bernhard,

    I understand fully your frustration with multiple platforms and communities. That's why I decided to focus on one - Twitter - and use LinkedIn mainly for contacts and Facebook just to see what it looks like.
  • i guess there are two aspects: not to miss a trend and an opportunity and the personal use on the other hand. Of course I notice the huge run on twitter and even the mass media is crazy about it. So in the end the consequence could of course be that twitter is a must for (almost) everyone.
    But until now I personally don't see the use for me.
  • Robert Nemeth
    In Europe UK wakes up last in the morning, but actually first considering the use of Twitter.
    Following the media and some celebrities, now the UK Government published it's 'Template Twitter strategy for Government Departments' in 20 pages.
    http://blogs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/digitalengage...
  • Rev
    I guess twitter failed to make much of an impact in Europe compared to the USA because Europe is still to figure out how to adapt twitter to its culture. So far politicians in Europe are effieciently using this socail network tool more than businesses.I guess when one company will finally come out with a successful European twitter formula others will copy.
    Check out this link for some tips on using twitter in Europe:http://tinyurl.com/o668h6
    Cheers, Rev.http://4-advice.net/blog/ict/
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