I used to think that Twitter’s occasional crash was exciting: we were witnessing the growing pains of a social service that was spreading like wildfire. Then it was a mild inconvenience: I’d feel that Twitter tick, an insatiable urge to update my timeline and send off a quick tweet.
Today, Twitter was down over an hour, and for some, it’s no longer just an inconvenience. For journalists, we use Twitter as a news source and communications platform. For marketers, it’s an important promotional and advertising vehicle. And personally, I’ve started using Twitter DM’s (along with Facebook messages) as frequently as email. So when the fail whale appears, it takes a news wire, email and a promotional platform down with it.
To be fair, Twitter is much improved now that they rolled out “New Twitter” on a new platform. And Facebook has its moments, too. But extended crashes like today remind us how much we depend on the service — not just personally, but professionally, too.
However, when Twitter recovers, most people pick up where they left off with barely a complaint. That’s a testament to Twitter’s remarkable bond with its users.
