Why don't we like Twitter when it's so important

Two of our most esteemed Public Relations professors here at the IU School of Journalism at Indianapolis, Bob Dittmer and Julie Vincent, have both stated (within the past few weeks) that young, college-age adults, are, for the most part, not into Twitter. However, social media has become a vital tool in the PR arena.

Of course, virtually everyone our age (and even some of our parents) are on Facebook. Why isn't Twitter catching on with college students?

The PRSSA chapter at the University of South Florida, led by William Cooper, writes that college students are Twitter-Less. In April 2009, the group survey 250 USF students, only 15 percent of which had a Twitter account.

This number has most likely increased since April of 2009. However, according to Samuel D. Bradley, in an article titled "College Students' Guide: Twitter 101," that was published in January of 2009, there were already over 1 billion blog posts on how to "tweet" on Twitter. He also lists links to his favorite advice.

Some professors are forcing the world of micro-blogging through Twitter on their students. U.S. News and World Report published "Twitter Goes to College," an article that describes the use of Twitter for communication in large college classrooms. At the University of Dallas, history professor Monica Rankin is employing the use of Twitter in her lecture class and believes that it is encouraging her students to use Twitter for networking outside her classroom as well.

So why should we be interested in Twitter, particularly from a PR standpoint? Not only can Twitter help with networking with classmates and PR professionals, but it can help you get a job! Social media is the next big thing in PR and, believe it or not, is a great point to list on your resume!

Want to hear more about using social media and how to work with bloggers in the PR workplace? Be sure to attend IUPUI PRSSA's first Professional Development Session of 2010!

Rob Muller and Julie Vincent will be speaking in the IUPUI Campus Center from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, February 15, 2010. You don't have to be PRSSA members to attend, so bring a friend for good conversation and free popcorn!