For an off-the-wall way to use Twitter, new craze Tweetbombing may just take the award for the most fun. Like the best crazes, Tweetbombing keeps it simple and open to everyone and so far the formula is working, with the Twitter profile for Tweetbomb already enjoying over 1,000 followers.
So what is Tweetbomb and why is it so much fun?
At its simplest, Tweetbomb is nothing more than a harmless way for Twitter users to play a game almost junior school-like in its approach. Twitter users follow Tweetbomb, and at exactly 3.33pm Eastern time (EST), a message is sent out to all followers with the name of the Twitter user to be Tweetbombed that day.
Everyone then sends out a blank Tweet – the Tweetbomb in question – to that user. No message, no hello, nothing – simply a blank Tweet and that’s it. Live results of how many Tweets are sent are provided via the Twitter search tool, while the user in question has no idea what’s going on until informed later.
As a way of encouraging new connections, Tweetbomb delivers (Tweetbombers often befriend the person that’s just been targeted). As a fun way and harmless way to use Twitter, Tweetbomb also delivers.
And isn’t having fun and meeting new people what makes Twitter so popular in the first place?
- UPDATE 30 NOVEMBER 2008: The Tweetbomb account has been suspended by Twitter pending investigation into misuse. While the idea behind Tweetbomb seems to be innocent fun, as Lucretia Pruitt points out in the comments it could perhaps be costly for someone receiving cell phone updates from Twitter. Until a way of voluntary and non-cost Tweetbombing is found, perhaps it needs to go back to the drawing board?
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It’s fun. What I like most about twitter is how easy it is to hear different voices and meet people outside your circle. I’d love a tweetbomb ;^D
The truth about tweetbomb. His identity revealed: http://blog.pilchard.org/2008/11/tweetbomb-the-truth/
I’m getting a kick out of the twitter games tweeps are playing!
Checking it out since you explained it a little more in-depth.
Nakeva´s last blog post..What Will You Ask Santa Twitter
Hi Danny,
I came across your link from a comment on Suzanne Franco’s site so I thought I’d check it out. I’m fairly new to the blogging world and very new to Social Media so I’ll be back to learn more from your site.
I’m also a Canadian and want to congratulate you on your nomination for Best Canadian Blog
Hi Luca,
Nice to have you here, and thanks for the kind comments re. the blog contest, appreciate it.
Hope to see you around here often and please feel free to ask for any help you might feel I can offer.
Actually, I’ll reserve judgment. Personally? I’d hate to have 1000 people ‘follow’ me just b/c of a meme. I want to make actual connections with people. Those people wouldn’t be likely to really connect with me. I’d guess they’d unfollow pretty quickly.
If too many of my friends start ‘playing’ this game I’ll just start avoiding twitter at 3:33pm. Last thing I need to see is page after page of nothing.
Curious how the person being “bombed” is chosen. It seems a bit iffy…
Is it random?
While I can see your point, Lucretia, it would still be your own personal decision to follow the “target” in question, so there wouldn’t be any difference there from choosing who to follow normally.
Although I agree that some kind of filter might be a good idea if this really takes off.
Given that I follow nearly 5k people it’s another one of those – seriously? 1200 people just twittering @name? Glad I don’t use SMS for this. :\ Ah well.
We’ll see how it goes!! At least it’s not monetized. I suspect it won’t last long either – being a meme and all.
Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog post..Even a Chatterbox like Me Listens…
Can you find someplace where it says how the target is determined? Just wondering – b/c if it’s voluntary? Cool. If it’s not? Then y’all might be participating in harassing someone. :\
Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog post..Even a Chatterbox like Me Listens…
Stupid thing is – I really wanted to just get an answer. If it’s legitimate fun? Then there should be no issue. You sign up, you are a target. If it’s not then there is an issue.
I’m just one of those “look into it first” kind of people.
Hopefully this gets straightened out. :\
Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog post..Even a Chatterbox like Me Listens…
I honestly hadn’t heard about Tweetbombing someone until I read this post!
Hmm… seems somewhat interesting, but not something I’m sad I haven’t been involved in.
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I love to use Twitter whenever i want to know the latest buzz about my friends. I also use Twitter to know the latest buzz from famous persons|