By Shona Lester

I finally did it; I knew it was coming; everyone is doing it. Seemingly I have sold my soul; all I know is that I have joined Twitter.

This new world is both exciting and daunting. You can literally read what is going on in the head of someone in another corner of the world, without them knowing. Stalking therefore has a new name. Unless you’re a celebrity it is generally understood that you are solely there to follow one. That is in many cases an accurate statement, though is it too volatile to base a business concept upon this alone? Maybe we’re living in a volatile world then because it seems Twitter is becoming more important than ever; celebrity is more important than ever.

Unlike Facebook, Bebo or the rest, it seems that your popularity is not measured by followers, there is no middle ground. After all, you either have double digits or hundreds of thousands. It’s less about collecting people and more about connecting with them. For a while I had thirteen followers, now my numbers have decreased to eleven. It was an unfortunate mishap: follower number thirteen was solely intent on advertising an ‘adult material’ website and when I didn’t respond they gave up. I never did find out the reason for follower twelve’s departure. It seems strange though how so called celebrities can have so many muggles captivated enough to follow their every move, whether it’s their trip to the supermarket, or making a sandwich, or doing the ironing. Have we nothing better to do? And is this the way the world is heading? Incidentally, Philip Schofield has just finished his accounts, Stephen Fry is eating breakfast and Chris Moyles is going out for a run.

This is not strictly true however. Amongst all of the tedious links lie a few gems of conversation, words that can move the listener and provoke an array of emotions. With such an audience we attain the power to cause both harmony and division, and thus how we act through our computers can hold great influence. I am still getting used to it all but I have already encountered a heated political debate with a Republican from Florida about the state of US Healthcare. I don’t know much about healthcare, especially US healthcare and possible reforms; I did that day. It’s not often you get the chance to debate on an international scale, so in this era by denying movements like Twitter are you denying yourself a voice?

I also wondered how successful Twitter as an idea is, how it sticks to what the creators perceive it to be there for, and so I thought I would try an experiment with the thirty people I am following. If you send them all, that is all of the friends, celebrities, icons, politicians, the simplest of messages, in 24 hours, how many will reply? The answer was one. Now I study Biology so I realise that on every level this was not a fair test yet disregarding the fact that many will not have been online, or the hundreds of tweets a celebrity will receive in a day, this just goes to show that the concept of Twitter might be lost amidst the pace of daily life. It is now so big that the intimate connection you once felt you held with your favourite comedian or presenter feels lost amongst hundreds of others apparently feeling the same thing. They weren’t meant to be shared, so why do we have to share them?

There is no point in taking a simple idea and making it complicated. Twitter was envisaged to be exactly that: with 140 characters, this mini blog site can change the world. It has begun the greatest discussion board ever created; it is powerful and it is active, and it is about time we woke up to our new computerised reality.

Get to know the Portadown College students who'll be blogging all summer long...

Holly Forbes has just completed Year 11 and is studying GCSE Journalism. She loves music and going to concerts, and is currently in USA with The Ulster Project.

Sasha Treanor has also completed Year 11 at Portadown College. A GCSE Journalism student, she is very interested in graphic design, and is rarely without her i-touch or her laptop!

Shona Lester, has just completed Year 13. Earlier this year she wrote an article for Hospitality NI magazine about underage drinking. Shona takes a witty though sometimes sardonic view on life. She has been writing stories for newspapers and magazines through The Journalism Club at Portadown College for the last three years, and co-wrote the award winning Bebo Rap in The Irish Times schoolmag competition which was shortlisted in the senior category for overall excellence last year.

Emma Baxter hascompleted Year 13 and has also been an enthusiastic writer in college’s Journalism Club. Emma likes to look at things outside the box. She took part in The Ulster Project two years ago and is currently hosting her American counterpart from Delaware, USA.

The News Letter is delighted to introduce Portadown College Year 11students Holly Forbes and Sasha Treanor, who will be sharing their views on everything from celebrity gossip to coursework over the summer!

Blog by Holly Forbes:

I’ve been following the Katie Price and Peter Andre saga and wonder if there is any need whatsoever for these pair to get a divorce, when they’ll probably get back together. I think this is just a scam for money as every tabloid and magazine has at least one article on them. They have two kids together and nothing will ruin that fairytale.

On the other hand, the fairytale of MPs expenses! I can’t believe the greed that dips into taxpayer’s money for £400 a month for food that my Mum pays for out of her own wages! Our money should not go towards their shopping bills or rent on their second homes. I think it is actually an absolute disgrace, and those who represent us should be ashamed.

Blog by Sasha Treanor - Summer Sun?

Finally, after months and months of working hard for exams, the big break is here.
This summer feels different though, my first year at college is over and with my head buried under so much coursework I’m wondering will this be a normal summer? Well I’ll just have to work hard and hope for the best.
On all accounts the summer has started off on a bitter sweet note as the weather's been totally amazing by Northern Irish standards, so that’s a good start.
However, turn on the TV for the 5 o’clock news and it’s a different story. News broke last week of the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Controversial as his life was its obviously upset a lot of his fans since it came totally out of the blue. The annoying thing is the death of one of America’s sweethearts Farrah Fawcett, only to have her passing overshadowed by Michael’slater that day.
She died on the 25th of June after a long battle with cancer. I think more coverage should have been given to her death than has been. Yes Jacko’s death was a great loss but the story of Fawcett'sfight against cancer could have been given more attention to help people keep strong when faced with illness.

The one thing that made my week was my trip to the cinema. I was dragged to see Star Trek, and sceptical as I was of the movie I went anyway.

I was so glad I’d not turned down the chance to see it. Believe me I’m far from a Trekkie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was captivating, the action started with the very first second, the amazing visuals would please even the harshest of critics and I’d recommend anyone to see it.
Star Trek has the whole package romance, humour and of course action.

So that’s what’s been on my mind this week, and now I’m off to sit at the letter box so i can wait and get to my school report before the parents do!

Hope everyone is enjoying their first few weeks of summer!

Sasha.