Norman — Norman-area social media users discussed the impact of this online phenomenon while munching on complimentary fried green beans and wings at Iron Starr Urban Barbeque Thursday evening.
These online socialites had come together in the flesh as part of the Norman MeetUp, a networking event organized by a small group of Norman residents who wanted to give online acquaintances a real-life face to go with the tweets they follow.
“I go to Oklahoma City tweet-ups all the time,” said Adrian Buendia, one of the founding members of the Norman MeetUp. “We just tried to get something going on in Norman in the Twitter world.”
Buendia’s conversation with other attendees focused on the use of social media in today’s society. Tanner Johnson, a Web page designer, said he remembers the hype and build-up in the 1990s about how the Internet would take over all traditional forms of communication.
“Well, it’s happened,” he said. “It’s here. It’s Facebook. It’s Twitter.”
Even in the relatively new business he is in, Johnson said he is having to find ways to remain relevant in a world run by social media. He now refers to his work as traditional Web design.
Gene Glaser said he learned about Twitter long ago, but even in his mid-20s, he’s not an active Twitterer.
Buendia said he’s not surprised. Twitter has more of an appeal for those in their upper 20s or in their 30s, he said.
Many ideas were thrown out as to why this statement seems true.
Cassie Gage attributed it to attention span. Buendia said it could be that older people just generally have fewer close friends as they are tied up with their families. Twitter is a way for them to update several friends with one fell swoop.
“It’s easier to connect with a lot of people on Twitter,” Buendia said.
During the event, which had attracted about 15 people by 6:30 p.m., an hour and a half into it, Twitter posts concerning Norman MeetUp were broadcast on a screen.
In addition to networking, attendees could participate in a raffle for gift certificates from iTunes and Best Buy, Thunder tickets or a necklace for Samuel Gordon Jewelers. Tickets were $2 each and all proceeds went to support Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Norman. Door prizes also were given, including gift certificates to Eskimo Snow, the book “Crush It” and, fitting for the event, the book “Tweet This,” by local author Jessica Miller-Merrell.
Gage said it’s the goal of the committee who organized the event to hold three or four a year. To stay updated on the next event, visit normanmeetup.com or follow Norman MeetUp on Twitter and Facebook.
Aaron Wright 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com
