Twitter: noun. A social networking site that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets), which are text based posts of up to 140 characters in length.
Ex: "I'm following Barack Obama on twitter."
At first glance of the top 100 most popular twitter users, it is not surprising to find the innovative social networker and President, Barack Obama, at the top spot, followed by a bunch of celebrities and witty tech entrpreneurs including Kevin Rose, Britney Spears and Shaq. Granted, you can't learn much about people in 140 characters, but it's an effective, authenitc and free form of PR. Suddenly Britney Spears seems like a friend instead of an out of reach superstar.
The bigger surprise is how popular Twitter is becoming on Capitol Hill. Upwards of 60 members of Congress, plus many other D.C community influentials, use Twitter. The formerly stereotyped impersonal and longwinded users are suddenly showing a little more personality. Number 1 on Politco's list of 10 Most Influential D.C Twitterers is Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush. Apparently this guy is funny. PR scheme or not, it seems America's policy makers are reaching out a little bit. Weird, but kind of cool.