From bloggers to social networkers, many debate the merits of Twitter as “an important form of communication.” But would you believe that’s what the U.S. State Department has called it?
With Western media banned from traditional news coverage of protests following Iran’s controversial presidential election, those 140-max-character micro-bursts on Twitter have proved to be the fastest ways to get information on what’s happening in the Middle Eastern country – and a good way for the protestors to interact with one another.
In fact, the State Department admitted it asked Twitter to delay maintenance of its site so that Iranians could communicate online.
Twitter’s co-founder has distanced himself from the revelation just a bit, claiming State Department influence had little to do with the decision to delay its maintenance. In a blog, Biz Stone wrote, "The State Dept does not have access to our decision making process. When we worked with our network provider to reschedule this planned maintenance, we did so because events in Iran were tied directly to the growing significance of Twitter as an important communication and information network. We decided together to move the date. It made sense for Twitter and for NTT America to keep services active during this highly visible global event."
