A Twitter Snapshot in Time

A new Web site called Twitcaps offers a unique perspective of those using Twitter and the content they share with others. Its FAQ page describes its service as follows:

Twitcaps is most easily described as Real-Time Image Search Engine / Browser. Twitcaps allows you to search, browse and capture the latest images posted to Twitter via any of the popular Twitter image services (Twitpic, yFrog, Twitgoo, etc). From the Twitcaps interface, you may capture an image for later use, re-tweet the image on your own Twitter feed, or share the image on any number of social linking services.

One visit to Twitcaps makes this clear. The home page displays a grid of thumbnails that have been uploaded to a Twitter image service within the past thirty seconds. Placing the cursor over any of the thumbnails provides more detailed information such as who sent the image and the associated tweet. A click on the thumbnail provides a closeup. The thumbnails can be refreshed manually by clicking on the Twitcaps logo or automatically by selecting Auto-Refresh from the global navigation.

The insight Twitcaps gives into the average Twitter user -- or, at least, the average user that shares visual information -- is perhaps more informative than any of the numerous online surveys that attempt to define that demographic. So what do these users deem important enough to share with their followers? An unscientific evaluation after days of viewing countless thumbnails showed a general grouping of images into five categories. In order of those most encountered, they are as follows:

Food
Those who use Twitter to the fullest extent throughout the day tend to share their gastronomical choices with the world. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks -- it doesn't matter. An image of a meal about to be devoured is de riguer on Twitter. Sometimes its main purpose is to show the restaurant at which one is eating, usually noted by its name on a cocktail napkin or menu cover. Most often, whether due to the lighting or image resolution, whatever being pictured generally looks unappetizing to anyone except the person snapping the photo.

Self-Portraits
The visual equivalent of what Twitter is all about. Not content to live within the constraint of 140 characters to answer the question of "what are you doing?", many embellish their tweets with a picture of themselves. Usually taken with a cell phone, this typically involves the ubiquitous social media pose -- the awkward angle looking down at the face with the arm extended to the edge of the frame. A popular variation is the mirror shot composed in a bathroom, sometimes with a gratuitous shot of the toilet in the background thrown in for good measure.

Cats
With many owners who treat their pets as a genuine part of the family, it comes as no surprise that images of four-legged companions dominate Twitter. But although it is generally believed that there are more dog owners than cat owners, images of our feline friends undoubtedly take precedence. There is little variation: either the cat (or kitten) is asleep, or on its back, a pose that many owners believe is unique to their pet, so it must be shared with others. From time to time, a yawning cat with teeth bared is added to the mix to show how "ferocious" a furry feline can be. Their cuteness, however, is undeniable and resistance to that fact is generally futile.

Celebrities
These are usually stock photos taken from Web sites and sent to one's followers. It's the most basic form of idol worship, and its subjects range from all areas of popular culture with those from music, sports, and movies the most prevalent. They comprise the most unimaginative contributions to the Twitter community as the photos are almost never taken by the individual tweeting it. One would think that most come from the younger Twitter users, the same ones who read TMZ or watch Access Hollywood. Perhaps that explains the preponderance of Jonas Brothers -- together or individually -- at all times of the day.

Sex
Surprisingly, this is not as common a subject matter as one might expect, especially considering the prevalence and perversity of pornography on the Web. There seems to be little softcore, let alone hardcore, erotica to be seen. It's almost as if users are informally adhering to a PG-13 standard. The raciest imagery tends to be those of indulgent kisses and shots of cleavage taken as a self-portrait. Bulges of other anatomical parts also make an appearance from time to time for both sexes. One wonders if this category will grow as spam continues to make inroads on Twitter.

Overall, anyone looking for excitement or titillation from Twitcaps will probably be disappointed. Instead, it provides a valuable anthropological insight by demonstrating the most mundane aspects of our lives. This is how we live: everyday banality with moments of excitement and levity that sometimes appear when it's least expected.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the great article about Twitcaps. Your break-down of the typical image categories is insightful and a great read to boot.

Cheers!
-jonathan