Interesting 'discussion' & statements made about Twitter/Facebook status updates. A couple points I want to make: -not every technology is for everyone: we can't make the assumption that everyone will join Facebook or twitter - some will have no use (or no time or motivation) - leading to next point. -people use technology in different ways and for different reasons: we can't make the assumption that people will use Facebook and twitter in the same way or for the same reasons; ie: some will use twitter to circulate/share info (academic/industry) to their tweeps, while others will provide more personal insight into their day (what they had for breakfast) - leading to next point. -we must be careful not assert/propose ways that you're 'supposed' to use status updates. If you don't like what your network members are posting/updating, don't read it or skip over it - don't follow them/friend them. Creating a hierarchy of knowledge sharing or legitimizing certain types of status updates (professional vs personal) is problematic. Most of us filter our info daily anyway - spam, list-servs, forwards from friends and relatives. Don't assume that you want to read & consume is the same as everybody else. Having said that, in the last year I found that I started self-police/regulate my twitter updates because of this notion of 'legitimate knowledge sharing'. In fact, I've split my online identity & have three twitter accounts - it's challenging to say the least, but in my mind - my audience(s) shape my online identity performance, and seemingly fragments it.... Tracy |...|...|...|...|...|...|...| Tracy L. M. Kennedy PhD Candidate Dept of Sociology University of Toronto Course Instructor Dept of Communications, Popular Culture & Film Brock University Second Life: Professor Tracy Xbox Live: pistolvixen Twitter: netwoman |...|...|...|...|...|...|...|