Using Facebook Status and Twitter for Work
This might be a no-brainer, but since my last comparison of Facebook status and Twitter with .project and .plan, I’ve been trying to use both of the former more often because I think it actually *is* useful for other people to know what you’re up to.
But it’s not just for what class you’re in, emotional states, or latest trysts, but also as a passive way to implore for help, advice, or to hear from others on similar matters.
For example, let’s say that instead of Twittering “waiting for Jim to fall back in love with me” you Twitter “working on methods of contesting temporary restraining orders.” Then, any of your friends who have also contested TROs could contact you with their related experiences.
Or think of Facebook and Twitter as “away” messages when you can’t or don’t use IM. (”Oh, he’s working on TROs, so I better not bother him.”)
Especially if you’re dedicated to using Twitter you can then create a network of friends in your industry or academic field, and when you’re all Twittering about your work, it really does become a community of experts helping experts, and not just a fun distraction on the Internets.
The biggest problem I see so far is that it takes widespread adoption of a certain application. Right now, in my world circles, Facebook is probably the most adopted, followed by IM, then Twitter. If IM were allowed at more workplaces (which I think it should be since voice-mail is getting so passe, and I think voice-mail to text is so cool), then I would think IM would replace this idea, but until then, Twitter-ing your status works pretty well.
(Since I’m not doing any work, my current status is: “Paul is twittering: watching 28 Days later instead of studying, the former being more worthwhile.“)
(Update 10/24/07: Here’s a better status: “Paul is twittering: finding whether admin agencies use the mailbox rule or time of filing to toll appeals limitations periods - and rocking to the Black Keys!”)