Comments on: Why Do People REALLY Tweet? The Psychology Behind Tweeting!

By: Top 10 Traits & Habits of Mixx Users! | Thoughtpick Blog

Top 10 Traits & Habits of Mixx Users! | Thoughtpick Blog — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:34:17 +0000

[...] have a soft spot for psychology which I like to use here at Thoughtpick at several occasions for Twitter use and Facebook’s popularity, combined with my marketing and social media knowledge and [...]

By: lori

lori — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:23:32 +0000

Currently Twitter doesn't fill any need of mine. Tried it. Don't get it. Will later use it as a marketing tool.

By: E T

E T — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:09:43 +0000

I wrote about what this article brought up for me: http://bit.ly/8hnGOm

Thanks, Elliott

By: mike2977

mike2977 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:51:29 +0000

As a geek for many years, it was natural to give Twitter a try early this year. Just playing with it, I gained about 40 followers from my close circle of friends and family in about 6 months. Then as Facebook sort of took over from MySpace, I saw Twitter expanding with tons of apps claiming to gain one more followers and decided to see just how many followers I could get if I gave it a serious try. To my amazement, I have gained over 40,000 followers since June using a couple of apps and discarding the "twitter train" or "follow-me, gain tons of followers" apps that also gained access to your Twitter credentials for their own usage.

Reading a lot of the Social Media blogs, I also tried a number of their tricks to see if some of the affiliate and MLM programs I'm involved with would gain additional business too, but my experience to date has been less than sensational. All I've really encountered with Twitter leads is more leads to sites claiming to make you a million dollars in a couple of months with their lead programs, seminars, books, etc.

So, fun & games for awhile, and a bit addictive. I've become a Twitter fan and probably fit in that pyramid somewhere :-)

Mike

By: mike nevi

mike nevi — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:51:31 +0000

thoughtpick» i'm probably 1/2 in the “i tweet therefore i am” group and 1/2 in the “music niche” group- but i have to say i get a kick from the random tweets online covering everything from high-tech to zen thoughts! 1example» 50 funniest/weirdest tweets on thoughtpick.. =]

cheers! mike the audioK9

By: cathy

cathy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:09:40 +0000

I'll never tell.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:05:19 +0000

I only agree with that when you are talking about personal tweeters, ones who have nothing to gain by doing it. However I have never felt the need to use if for anything but business, or something I need to promote. It is great for that, and a wonderful tool in that respect, but it is no substituted for a social life, nor is any social network for that matter.

By: Jim Crabb

Jim Crabb — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:35:27 +0000

How did I miss this=)…it has been at least 30 years since my pic appeared in a publication. Yes I do enjoy your tweets n writings. Thanks!:-)

By: The Addictive Psychology Behind Facebook’s Use & Popularity! | Thoughtpick Blog

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:39:06 +0000

[...] Not so long ago, we discussed how the use of social media channels, in general, can cause different types of psychological problems or disturbances and how it can have the ability to negatively influence our mental and emotional health. In another post, we discussed the psychology behind people tweeting. [...]

By: Lisa Pecunia

Lisa Pecunia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:04:14 +0000

Maslow was a genius, that is for sure. However, I think this is a vast generalization and probably only true of a portion of the tweeting universe. Personally I tweet because I've been told I have to for my business. Otherwise to be honest I probably wouldn't bother. I suspect lots of tweeters do it for the same reason.

On the other hand, a lot can be learned from the data that is being organically compiled in the Twitterverse, and if I had the time I'd explore this further. On the surface it just seems like a mass overload of 140-byte thoughts, but I have honestly seen some real gems in there. But finding them is rare and difficult. Whoever can harness this will have true power and great knowledge.

By: Lisa Pecunia

Lisa Pecunia — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:04:14 +0000

By: ppeach40

ppeach40 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:27:57 +0000

Yea this is so true!! You are awsome.

By: Strange things are afoot + Links of interest « Ramblings of a WebWench

Strange things are afoot + Links of interest « Ramblings of a WebWench — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:30:26 +0000

[...] Why Do People REALLY Tweet? The Psychology Behind Tweeting! [...]

By: What Does Your Twitter Avatar & Background Say About YOU? | Thoughtpick Blog

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:08:53 +0000

[...] of us uses Twitter for a certain aim and tweets for a different reason. Therefore, it is highly essential that your avatar and background are able to clearly corroborate [...]

By: mnplanner

mnplanner — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:48:34 +0000

Nice Article. I think it's interesting that a lot of Tweets are about Physiological needs. “I ate a sandwich” “I'm tired” “I'm Poo….”

By: daryll2009

daryll2009 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:53:38 +0000

I tweet cuz i just wanna type something on my qwerty cellphone. haha
kidding aside, i have to disagree on need for love, belonging, esteem and self-actualization as a reason why tweeple are tweeting. Texting has become so expensive, twitter is a great alternative. pEOPLE discover ways how to take advantage of their data plans. we always find new ways to open communication portals.

By: kuasar

kuasar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:39:29 +0000

“Oliver James stated that

By: Eline Walda

Eline Walda — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:03:06 +0000

For me, the most important reason to try Twitter was self-education. As a communications consultant I should try things myself before I advise them to my clients. I have been on Twitter for almost a year now, and my experience has been a positive one. Apart from the learning experience, I have found interesting people, learnt a lot through insights on Twitter and through links to postings I would never have found otherwise. And? And it has given me entertainment, diversion, a good laugh now and then. As far as I'm concerned, twitter is here to stay.

Truthfully, in Maslow terms, for me Twitter is belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Especially the latter, since for me Twitter is all about education and development. At the same time, Twitter is only one of the many tools at your disposal if you wish to interact with people – be it socially or professionally. Let's not over-analyze it… a year from now, Twitter will not be a hype anymore, it will just be out there for you to use to your heart's delight. Just like so many other tools. In the end, it's all about sharing, communications.

By: AKG

AKG — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:11:37 +0000

Twitter seems to keep me from ataining fulfillment of the physiological base needs [like waiting to eat or sleep to keep reading people's tweets] but it is very effective at fortifying the upper levels. Professionally, where I am least reinforced by my immediate peers and administration, I find twitter and my PLN I have developed there very effective at supplying immediate, constant, and effective PD. This is far and away more than my school system has ever been able to do.

By: TripleM

TripleM — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:49:42 +0000

Actually, I didn't mean it that way! I was just teasing you a bit. :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:44:17 +0000

Thank you for your constructive criticism.

I'll be waiting to read a post from you which is “focused on why human being communicate with each other”, since you think that that would be a more serious analysis. :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:40:11 +0000

Thanks for the long and insightful comment... I still believe in my analysis though for one reason: you said "only a true scientific study would help us to understand..." I have to disagree.

I've been a "more than loyal" user of Twitter for 6 months now... I engage with people, I share links, quotes, funny stuff and I spend more than 4 hours per day doing so. I think that I, more than anyone else, can come up with a sound opinion of why people tweet, more than a scientist dealing with numbers and stats and watching from outside... I really think that you need to be in the middle of it all to be sincere about your observations...

Freud may have had his own ideas which are more related to the human condition than Maslow, but let's face it, most of them made us look like as if we do everything for a reason related to sex or a need to fulfill a sexual desire.

I also studied Maslow at school and that was a long time ago. We studied him in relation to management and I forgot that he existed. Until one day, while thinking of a topic to write, he came up in relation to the act of tweeting and it felt right and logical for me to use his ides here.

Naturally, I could have used any other philosopher like Plato or Socrates or writers whom I admire like Kafka... But as a rule of thumb, and as a writer, I make it a point to write about the first idea that pops to my head and remains strong after research.

Regards,

Beirut

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:30:43 +0000

To be loved and MORE… I think wanting to be loved plays an important role but seeking recognition is the big umbrella under which everything falls! Thanks for reading the post and the comment as well :)

By: Beiruta

Beiruta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:29:07 +0000

@TripleM! I'm glad you enjoyed how I linked Maslow's Hierarchy of needs with the reasons behind tweeting :) One thing though, you said it was “unexpectedly clever of me”, you don't trust my intelligence? :P Just kidding :)

By: mike1610

mike1610 — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:37:39 +0000

I think many tweet (probably including me) to get response, to follow and to be followed, find somebody to idealize, find people who are “just like me” and so on… I think the needs of the SELF (for me the SELF by Heinz Kohut) are important motivations to twitter! – or to blog, to express yourself on facebook and on so many other social network sites… Mike

By: anoopjacob

anoopjacob — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:02:07 +0000

Twitter is so simple.. I think it does have some viral character..

By: FadiPick

FadiPick — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:48:10 +0000

By: IndySkye

IndySkye — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:18:54 +0000

Tweeting is nothing more than another modern form of communication. Substitute “speaking” for “tweeting” and you easily see how absurd is the basis for the article. “Now that I have listed the psychological needs behind speaking, which need would you say speaking satisfies for you? And do you think there are other needs that speaking fulfills?” Or better yet,

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:21:25 +0000

It's far to complex to be explained by Maslow's theories. Actually, Maslow's theory tends to be used more in management teaching than in Psychology teaching. When I did my Psych. degree Maslow was merely touched upon - considered now more as pop psychology. (Sorry, don't mean to sound dismissive). Actually, I think Freud, for all his shortcomings, and there were plenty, might have more to say about Twitter than Maslow.

The truth is, you have to look at the individuals concerned, maybe divide them into "types". Some people may indeed feel some lack of identity that drives them to try to identify with cyber people. But some people might just be lonely and/or bored. Twitter gives them something to do. Some might just want to entertain. Look for instance at Graham Linehan's tweets. There is such a mixture and he doesn't seem to me to be a person who lacks identity!

Nah, we can all come up with our own individual theories about why people tweet (or use Facebook) but in the end, only a true scientific study would help us to understand what's behind people's motivations.

In the mean time, I'm off back to Tweet some more :)

By: Andy C

Andy C — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:50:44 +0000

Same as blogging really. It all stems from a desire to be loved.

By: Anita C. McCants

Anita C. McCants — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:59:26 +0000

I tweet to share ideas, share articles,
and of course… share my blog. :~)

By: TripleM

TripleM — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:06:05 +0000

Now we all know that Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs basically determines the organizational behaviour of company individuals. Using it to determines the psychological reasons behind Twittering was unexpectedly clever of you. I really enjoyed reading your piece. I thought it was cool how you included both the non-personal and personal aspects of Twittering.