Recently, I asked a couple of college friends to share their thoughts about the micro-blogging platform Twitter. They are in their early 20s, come from different ethnic backgrounds and pursue different academic careers. Based on my observations, they adequately represent the common college student opinion about the platform.

What are the facts?

• All knew about Twitter.
• Most were confused about the way it works.

Why don’t they use it?

• They think it is celebrity-oriented.
• They see it as an intrusion to their personal spaces.

What could change?

• Smart phones
  When smart phones become ubiquitous to the extent that college students can afford them, the use of Twitter might expand in these communities.
• Friend influence
  Twitter will become more popular if college students who are early adopters exercise influence on their friends. One is more willing to join a space that serves familiar faces.