To tweet or not to tweet

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like Twitter has sort of skipped over our generation. The only people I hear talking about the latest tweets made on Twitter are my 11 year-old brother and various celebrities ranging from in their mid 20's to 50's. The majority of people my age, including myself, hardly even know how to use the new social networking phenomenon, let alone know what it's actual purpose is.

The basic gist that I've gathered over the past year or so is that you can compose short "tweets" about what you are doing, where you are, who you're with etc. at the present moment to other "tweeple" that are following you. An example from none other than the Twitter queen herself, Kim Kardashian:

Pure glam! So fun! RT @JasonBinn Wow. #Oscars! @JonathanCheban, @KimKardashian @iamjamiefoxxhttp://yfrog.com/h8vc1xpj

7:26 PM Feb 27th via TweetGenius
I can't even understand this past the first four words. It's crazy to see how Twitter has created an entirely new way for people to communicate with each other. I had to look up online what this short little tweet meant and not to my surprise, when I googled it, the first 3 pages of results were filled with countless websites outlining how to navigate and understand Twitter lingo (I didn't even bother going on to the fourth...)! I understand celebrities using Twitter as a means to keep in touch with their fans, but most tweets seem to be comprised of useless information that takes ten extra minutes just to decode. I now have a Twitter for this class but I don't think I will be tweeting anytime soon!
click here to see the plethora of online Twitter dictionaries.

Huh?

Guys, I just don’t understand Twitter. I have an account, but I can’t really figure out its purpose. I use it more to follow magazines, news outlets, or accounts that promote lifestyle choices that I am interested in (like eating healthier). But I just don’t know what I could post on there that would be of interest to people. I could say “Hey I’m going up north tonight” but who cares? If I put it on my Facebook status at least people could comment or “like” it. But even if people respond to me via Tweet it just seems strange. I can’t grasp any deeper purpose for it beyond businesses updating their customers with information or celebrities using it as an outreach tool. I don’t mean to sound like I’m bashing Twitter because I’m not, I’m just confused.

As a PR tool, it’s great! Got a scandal? Tweet your way to a clean slate; apologize to your adoring fans and you’re in the clear. Tell them what brand shoes you just bought and it’ll be the next great product consumers have never heard of… until now. Kim Kardashian posted: “I’m breaking up with my trainer because I only need Shape-Ups” or “Come see me at Macy’s Glendale Feb. 22nd.” Wonder how crowded that’s going to get.

Promotional tool, got it… but will someone please explain the purpose of Twitter beyond just using it as another means of updating people with your every move. But hey, feel free to follow me: http://twitter.com/#!/alisonrenee218