As 2012 approaches the speed in which we consume information is for forever increasing.  We are beginning to see a shift in how we consume news, from pulling and filtering to pushing and cleansed.  No longer is the one hour from event to posting on Drudgereport.com or similar website acceptable.  I want my news the very moment the event happens, and then as additional facts filter in I want to make an analysis of everything and see what my truth agent du jour has to say about it too. That’s why I love Twitter and similar social networking tools.  They let me know in real time what is taking place anywhere in the world, and it is up to me to critically think about what has been presented, and how I want to react.

Yes, Twitter is making Drudgereport .com, Yahoo News, Google News, and so many others irrelevant and late to the news party.  Their news is behind the Twitter curve.

Think about it this way, a massive 8.1 earthquake happens off the coast of Oregon.  Folks who are present begin immediately to Twitter, video cast, and send photos about their experience of the event. There’s no hearsay as to what has happened, but pure event coverage. It also makes me a remote participant in the event itself.  It binds me to it and provides a personal connection. At the same time a hashtag (#) identifier goes up on twitter as an easy method to track details of the earthquake. Then subject matter experts who are active in the Twitter community begin commenting on what is taking place. They link to the best data tools for identifying the epicenter of the quake, specific water buoys that identify sea rises in real time data, and so much more.  A Twitter consciousness emerges as to what could be expected to take place next, and what could be reasonably neglected. Yes there is a possibility that incorrect or untrue group think can emerge, but good, verifiable and trustworthy  information will always rise to the top. Finally and most importantly areas where people who have been effected by the quake can be readably flagged for help at a rate that was previously unthinkable. Local emergency management services are engaged, results (or lack of) are Twittered.  All this takes place via real time Twitter communications while current news sites are debating about how they should approach the story.

Tags: News, trends, Twitter