ok ok ok
Let's take this one step at a time...
2 things:
POINT 1 (FILTERING):
- A tweet is less filtered than a press conference or some other statement by the time it reaches the end consumer (the average person). By "less filtered", I mean that doesn't have to go through as many hands before it reaches the end. It isn't altered or added to or subtracted from. It can be later of course, but the original is present in its pure form on Twitter (or was.) Anyone can see exactly what he said at any time.
- The original tweet isn't bookended by commentary (unless you count comments I guess). A talking head isn't talking over it. He isn't talking before it. Or after it. It isn't mentioned in the middle of a news article or editorial. It isn't clipped or chopped. His words are presented directly, as it was created by the source.
- With a tweet, Trump has nearly complete control over the presentation. It's his words, unedited, typed with his own hand and presented directly to anyone with an internet connection.
- Ok yes, Twitter is a middle man of sorts, but a pretty unobtrusive one compared to the multiple parties a press statement has to FILTER through to reach the general public.
POINT 2 (REACH): He has more reach on social media than without it.
- There are 330m monthly active users and 145 million daily users on Twitter alone. There are 3.5 billion social media users worldwide (44%-53% of the world population.) 90% of millennials, 77% of Gen X, and 48% of boomers use social media. All of these people are of voting age. I've seen stats that say the average user spends 3 hours per day on social media (In any case, it's probably way more than it should be.)
- Social media accounts for about half of all internet traffic.
- Sorry strat, but social media is really big. You can think I'm a crazy ole cave man all you'd like, but there are a lot of Burts out there. You are going to have to accept this.
- A tweet is (somewhat) permanent, available at any time of the day, available weeks later. This means that it can be seen by anyone at their convenience. They don't have to watch TV at certain times.
- McP seems to think that I'm arguing that tens of millions of people are sitting at home desperately hitting refresh on their Twitter feeds waiting desperately for a Trump tweet. I'm arguing the opposite. Most people range from ambivalent to mildly interested. Some will only check social media once a day or so. Social media's power is in reaching those people.
- Tweets are taylor-made to be shared. They are taylor-made to rapidly propagate across the internet. Other sites have share buttons specifically for this purpose. They can be easily imbedded on any website. Granted, this is not an unfiltered process, but a tweet reaches far beyond Twitter. It reaches other social media sites, independent sites, cable news, and newspapers.
- These social media sites have algorithms that privilege certain newsworthy or attention grabbing posts at the top of people's feeds. The president is of course newsworthy and attention-grabbing. He drives traffic. He is seen more than most. Now he isn't.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
P.S. Also keep in mind that a lot of prominent voices who would share Trump news were also removed yesterday, which lowers both his TV and internet clout even further.