Recently, I have seen some debate in my Twitter stream over whether trending topics should be removed. This is a highly debated topic, so examining trending topics from many different angles was necessary.
Here are a few of the most common criticisms of Twitter’s trending topics and why they should ultimately be removed.
Trending topics are often filled with spam topics or irrelevant hashtags.
If you glance at trending topics at different points in the day, many times you’ll see anywhere from two to five hashtags that most users would consider for fun or unnecessary. While there is little question that noteworthy (even newsworthy) topics are a part of trending topics, many of the top ten hashtags are usually not very helpful.
Trending Topics on December 14, 2009.
The unnecessary hashtags add to the noise on the Twitter platform as Tweeps try actively to “get topics to trend”.
Sure, we’ve all been a part of it. In attempt to raise awareness for a cause (or even just as a joke), people try to get certain topics to trend on Twitter. What many don’t realize is the sheer number of tweets that it takes to get a topic to hit the top ten—many more tweets than one (or even 100) people could send out in a day.
Many Twitter users simply don’t understand that trending topics is something out of their own personal control.
Trending topics contributes to false rumors and news being spread around the platform.
We’ve seen it before—trending topics can be a huge contributing factor to a rumor or false news story being spread. Kanye West’s apparent death is one of the latest rumors to be spread, and it turned out to be a hoax. However, when it hit trending topics at #10, it was a matter of minutes before “RIP Kanye” and other like hashtags were at the top of Twitter’s trending topics list.
Do you think trending topics should be removed from Twitter? Let me know in the comments.
there's lots of stupid trending topics, but i still rely on them to guide me at times. i remember looking at them and seeing "ft. hood." i didn't know what ft. hood was. for all i knew, it was a new warfare video game (if i had only known). i clicked on it -- it was on there several times -- and i found out right away about the news about the shootings at ft. hood. it's still a good source of news/journalism/hive mind.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Smussyolay.
Ironically, I too first heard of the Fort Hood shootings via Twitter's trending topics, and do agree that it could be a good source for news and journalism.
One thing I think people need to consider is that essentially all news that is broken on Twitter has to be considered unofficial until several reputable news sources can confirm it. People sometimes take a reckless approach to sharing breaking news, when the supposed "news" turns out to be false.
scarequoter
"Why so serious?" >:-)
sizemattic
Agreed. There are so many stupid trending topics. I was going to say that if there are going to be trending topics then it should be regulated but sometimes when the topic gets so big it comes in waves of hundreds. Maybe only allow certain people to post in trending topics such as reliable sources for news, sports, celebrity, tech, etc. Maybe getting rid of trending topics should be a trending topic?
Hi Sizemattic, thanks so much for leaving a comment here.
Authoritative sources could be the answer to irrelevant trending topics, but it would be taking a great deal of influence out of the hands of the citizen journalists and news-junkies. Normally, the citizens are the one who catch onto big topics, sometimes 15-30 minutes before the first authoritative source picks it up.
Regardless, I do agree with you that people should really evaluate how trending topics affects their twitter experience.
3 Reasons Why Twitter’s Trending Topics Should Be Removed
Recently, I have seen some debate in my Twitter stream over whether trending topics should be removed. This is a highly debated topic, so examining trending topics from many different angles was necessary.
Here are a few of the most common criticisms of Twitter’s trending topics and why they should ultimately be removed.
If you glance at trending topics at different points in the day, many times you’ll see anywhere from two to five hashtags that most users would consider for fun or unnecessary. While there is little question that noteworthy (even newsworthy) topics are a part of trending topics, many of the top ten hashtags are usually not very helpful.
Trending Topics on December 14, 2009.
Sure, we’ve all been a part of it. In attempt to raise awareness for a cause (or even just as a joke), people try to get certain topics to trend on Twitter. What many don’t realize is the sheer number of tweets that it takes to get a topic to hit the top ten—many more tweets than one (or even 100) people could send out in a day.
Many Twitter users simply don’t understand that trending topics is something out of their own personal control.
We’ve seen it before—trending topics can be a huge contributing factor to a rumor or false news story being spread. Kanye West’s apparent death is one of the latest rumors to be spread, and it turned out to be a hoax. However, when it hit trending topics at #10, it was a matter of minutes before “RIP Kanye” and other like hashtags were at the top of Twitter’s trending topics list.
Do you think trending topics should be removed from Twitter? Let me know in the comments.