Why I Love & Hate Twitter’s Trending Topics

For those of you who are non-Tweeters, Twitter has a feature that lists the most frequent words or #hashtags at a given time.  These so-called  Trending Topics can be quite useful but can often times harmful.  Let’s break it down.

Let’s begin with the good things:

1. Provide a snapshot view of the current things going on
2. You can select which geographic area’s topics you would like to view (Worldwide, Your country, & City Specific)
3. Provide an excellent way to find out breaking news before the media can even report it (This is actually how I found out about the death of (Amy Winehouse)
4. Is an excellent way for marketers to promote their product or service

Now, the ugly side of Trending Topics:

1. The best way for rumors to be spread (i.e. false celebrity deaths or other news)
2. Trending prejudice (i.e. #PearlHarbor when Japan was defeating the US team during the women’s World Cup)
3. People adding a trending topic to their tweet that isn’t relevant – SO ANNOYING!

While I enjoy Trending Topics, I feel like there many misguided people in the Twitterverse that just do not understand when it’s appropriate to use #hashtags.  For those you who are guilty of this, let’s keep it classy people!  Leave the spam, prejudice, and rumors in your mind!