Rethink the conventional ‘meaning’ of Twitter Lists.
Now that Twitter lists have been rolled out more broadly, it’s possible for many/most of us using Twitter to create lists of those whom we follow (great– easier than Tweetdeck!). It is now also possible for us to see which Twitter lists how many Twitter lists we’ve been put on by others.
This second feature– seeing where how often *you* are listed, has immediately become the new twitter high.
But it is downright disturbing to imagine that “the number of twitter lists you are on” has “become a new barometer of cool” (via @chrisheuer). Sure, we all want to be cool, but being on a lot of lists (or not) doesn’t tell us whether we’re cool– it just tells us that for some of the folks who list us, we’re tucked into a category of other Tweeters quite like us. Consider:
Being on many Twitter Lists is NOT “a barometer of cool” — it’s a measure of ease of Categorization.
Easy to categorize => Similar to others => Easy to ‘list’
If many people you follow are the same kind of voice, have the same domain of expertise, or are from the same circle, it will be easy and useful to cluster them together on a list.
However, not every person you follow is similar enough to other people you follow to warrant their being placed on one of your Twitter lists. For example, @ikepigott is one of the only ‘free market’ advocates I follow, so I’m not putting him on a list. Does that mean he is unimportant? Uncool? No– it just means he doesn’t fit in a category that is ‘big enough’ for me to list.
Similarly, I follow @CaliYost– but what list will I put her on? Work-Life Fit experts? (sure) Tween parenting advisers? (okay) Women Business Owners? (fine) Inspiring people on Twitter? (that too). So, whatamIgonna have? @CaliYost on 4 different lists? She’s hard to put into just one category, and having her on many lists seems neither efficient nor necessary.
Just because you are categorizable to some people doesn’t mean you are more valuable, or less valuable. It just means that it makes sense to group you with other people. And that is fine, but it is not a measure of ‘cool’.
In fact, it may be that NOT being on a lot of lists is also a measure…. a measure of your uniqueness.
I only follow ONE @Heartfeldt. She’s the only feminist/leader/author/grow-up-to-be-like-her friend I have (though, someday, I hope there will be more leaders of her ilk on Twitter).
Likewise, I only follow ONE @Bob_Bruner. He’s the only colleague/finance professor/dean/person-with-William-Blake-quote-on-office-wall that I follow (though, I wish there were more finance professors like him).
What if you are the only person like you that other people follow?
What if you are not on a lot of lists, and yet you have followers?
That, dear twerpson, means that you are unique. You are providing a special voice. Your tweets stand out, because you cannot be easily categorized.
To me, that uniqueness is what’s “cool”.
Related Posts:
Is Twitter is Really Changing Comcast’s Culture?: 7 Signs to Look For
Tweet Yourself Like The Person You Want To Be
Don’t Let Personal Branding Stifle Your Authentic Voice
Image: Seeds of Summer by Daz Smith on Flickr
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Last week I had the chance to work with a group of non-profit Jewish professionals in charge of youth community outreach for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). They had invited me to participate in a workshop on Community & Branding, with an emphasis on tactics for being more authentic as they extend themselves into social media.
I am an organizational identity and reputation scholar with a PhD in leadership & organizations. I research, write, teach and consult with organizations about the relationships between organizational identity, actions, and purpose. See the 
