Is twitter social media or social networking 2024?

As an expert in the field of digital communication and social media, I have spent a considerable amount of time studying the evolution and characteristics of various platforms. The distinction between social media and social networking is an important one to understand when discussing platforms like Twitter.
Social media refers to the channels, or platforms, where people can create, share, or exchange information and content. It is characterized by the ease of creating web content that is openly accessible over the internet. Social media encompasses a broad spectrum of internet-based communication channels, from blogs and forums to video and photo sharing websites.
Social networking, on the other hand, is a subset of social media that specifically focuses on building and reflecting social relationships among people who share interests and activities. These platforms typically allow users to communicate with each other by sending messages, exchanging posts that are visible on their friends' news feeds, and engaging in various interactive features.
Twitter, as a platform, has elements of both social media and social networking. It allows users to post short messages, known as "tweets," which can be viewed by anyone who chooses to follow them. This aspect of Twitter is very much in line with the definition of social media, where the focus is on the sharing and distribution of content.
However, Twitter also has features that align it with social networking. Users can follow other users, reply to tweets, and engage in conversations through mentions and hashtags. This interaction and the ability to build a network of followers and connections is a key aspect of social networking.
The statement by Kevin Thau, Twitter's VP for business and corporate development, suggests that Twitter is more focused on news and content distribution rather than being a traditional social network. This perspective is valid to some extent. Twitter has indeed become a significant source of real-time news and information, with many journalists, celebrities, politicians, and businesses using it as a platform to disseminate news and updates quickly and efficiently.
Nonetheless, to categorize Twitter solely as a news platform would be an oversimplification. The platform's design and user behavior demonstrate that it serves multiple purposes. It is a place where news breaks and spreads, but it is also a space where people form connections, share personal updates, and engage in discussions – all of which are characteristics of social networking.
In conclusion, while Twitter has strong ties to news and content distribution, it also possesses the interactive and relational qualities of a social network. It is a hybrid platform that blends the aspects of both social media and social networking, making it a unique and influential tool in the digital landscape.

Kevin Thau, Twitter's VP for business and corporate development, announced during a presentation at Nokia World 2010 today that everyone's favorite micro-blogging network is not actually a social network. No, says Thau: Twitter is for news. Twitter is for content.Sep 14, 2010