Twitter

In 2001, theorist Manuel Castells suggested, “Cyberspace has become a global electronic agora where the diversity of human disaffection explodes in a cacophony of accents” (p. 138). The Internet is furthering the spread of individual human thoughts and ideas, bringing to light a variety of voices and opinions on every subject imaginable. As a public social network, Twitter has emerged as a space for average citizens, politicians, and celebrities alike to share developing news, ideas, and opinions about topics ranging from climate change to political scandals to the colors of women’s fashion. The system is opening up social and geographic research because of the ability to gain insight into the geographic locations of users as well as into the thoughts and responses of ordinary people ...