Comments on: It’s not about viewer numbers

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:35:38 +0000

Good point Nathan. Whatever you might might think of the PM, the Twitter feed just subtly reminds you that there’s someone out there working their arse off day in day out, running the country.

By: Nathan McDonald

Nathan McDonald — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:08:44 +0000

@Tom – Good points about the TV land audience vs the Twittosphere.

I would add that Twitter also provides a (searchable) timeline of items, represting a record of the stream of activities at Number 10. So we can all see what the PM is up to when not swanning around on TV…

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:55:00 +0000

I didn’t mean the Twitter profile was more significant, just that a TV viewer is not equivalent to a Twitter follower because it’s a different type of relationship and interaction. You’re absolutely right though – just because you follow someone it doesn’t mean you agree with or like them. But I guess that’s also true for watching someone on TV.

By: Dom

Dom — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:30:45 +0000

It’s true that it’s a more personal experience but I don’t think that Downing Street’s Twitter profile is anywhere near as significant as that on GMTV.

For starters, with Twitter – unless you spend your time hardwired to the updates of people you happen to be following 24 hours a day – then you only see parts of a puzzle, not the whole conversation. This has to be a major obstacle to public engagement. At least GMTV is on at a set time meaning that people can tune in and catch the full conversation.

Secondly, people aren’t always bought into the figures that they follow. I’m currently following Brian Paddick on Twitter but I’d rather chew my right arm off than vote for him. That said I have warmed to him since he answered one of my questions to him via Twitter.