ArsGeek

The June 15, 2009, edition of TIME Magazine displayed on its cover a picture of an iPhone with a Twitter message from author Steven B. Johnson. The feature story was Johnson’s message on “how Twitter is changing the way we live—and showing us the future of innovation.” The June 29, 2009 Time magazine cover shows a crowd of protestors in Iran. Apparently, the two stories have something more in common than first glance at the cover may reveal. And it’s a commonality that is rapidly earning worldwide recognition.

In a revolution that some are calling today’s Tiananmen, these protestors have something their Chinese counterparts didn’t: access to social networking sites and modern technology. While it may not be true that Twitter is changing everyone’s life (remember, most Twitter users leave after the first tweet), Johnson is nonetheless correct that the social network is changing lives. And it’s giving a voice to some who would otherwise be silenced. That is certain; that is obvious.

But are the Iranian people giving Twitter a voice that would normally be shut out after the first use? Today as I listened to the news, I heard screaming protestors in Iran, but I also heard a lot of hype about how Twitter has become the people’s media. And in the comments following the news program, I heard an interviewee who would otherwise not use social media explain why she had become a Twitter user and how she felt this was a crucial tool for the media. Now she’s promoting Twitter to like-minded, middle-aged friends.

Every major news network is now sharing how Twitter is opening the world’s eyes to the reality of what is going on in Iran. Traditional media outlets are thus giving a voice to the new media—Twitter. Because of this unconventional twist, people who would have never otherwise heard of Twitter are now joining to get in on the latest news feed phenomenon.

But will the news followers remain after the activity in Iran has died down? That is as much of an unknown as is the longevity—or outcome—of Iran’s political situation. But what is likely is that other situations will occur in which average people will have a voice through Twitter. And for that reason, many may remain and become permanent users. Will they actively Tweet? Perhaps not. But they will follow. So, perhaps, Mr. Johnson, you are correct—Twitter just might be showing us the future of innovation.

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