To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Modern technology and modern society has gone mad! Sorry for being blunt, but there has to be a limit. B"H I don't have Facebook or Twitter, I do have email and also Messenger so that I can have video conferences with my family overseas, but that's it! It's time we all decided that enough is enough! Twitter is just another step lower into the depths of our immoral society. Don't go there please, Lori!!

I heard tell of one woman using Twitter to announce where her lunch truck would be located that day or time. It is how her customers keep track of her because her business is mobile. If you want, Lori, you can limit your tweets to similar announcements: where you are going to be next for a speaking engagement or when you're away on a trip to another country, etc. Otherwise I agree, we've overstepped the line in many ways. Telling everything online can show a lack of (or even recognition of) personal boundaries and, if I may say, good manners. I may like to keep in touch but I don't like being bombarded with absolutely everything that is going on in some people's lives. Voyeurism and stalking may have become national pastimes.

Like all things, there is a time and a place. There are specific people or circumstances for which this type of thing is a positive (such as people working together to overthrow a repressive government). However, for most people it is being used to exchange meaningful contact with a small number of people for trivial contact with a greater number of more distant contacts. It is also far too narcissistic and wastes too much valuable time.

Twitter is only good for some things. Mostly it's useless though. However, It is good to follow artists or bands or news outlets that are important to you. Then you can find out if they are playing somewhere or if there as been a delay - maybe a concert cancelled. Or that the drummer is in hospital. That kind of thing. It's good for fans, bands, media and DJ's to contact each other during events such as shows or unusual events - for example the mess in Toronto during the last G20! It is a good tool for marketting and revolutions and breaking stories and planning things like flashmobs. But it is pretty much useless for anything else! So if you aren't interested in any of those things - keep resisting the pressure! I wish you luck - people can be amazingly pushy about pressurizing each other in to mob behaviour. :-/

Lori, it depends on whether or not you want to be able to instantly share some news; good, bad or indifferent. I'm mostly homebound for a number of reasons. I do get too much email--over 150 a day--but I've got spamarrest and gmail that filters out what spamarrest doesn't. Facebook is great for longer postings, but Twitter is a good way to let folks know "I'm going to be unreachable for the next week so don't send me mail." Or I'm going back to the hospital for three days," something I do more frequently than I'd like but they won't let me have Morphine outside of the hospital . I belong to a group of people who, like myself, suffer from chronic intractable pain. We swap med ideas, share what's new in the field of pain relief, etc. Sometimes it is nice to have a place to go to where I can let go and be talking with people like myself. People with intense pain think we're exasperating; it's nice to be with others who know we're not just griping for griping's sake. It is also a great way to share Torah. I'm not an expert by any means but being as young as I am (70) I've been around the block a few times. My back is killing me so I'll say shalom and be in wonderful health! I really like your column!

I don't think you should. If one would set there priorities straight thwy would realize that facebook and twitter are stopping them from who they can become. Thank G-d i don't have either but i have seen people being sucked away from there life, people who can't have a normal conversation with people because there busy on there phone's updating there latest mood message. I say stay away becase in life when you start something it is very hard to break away from!

It's very hard to get the attention of someone who's busy texting or glued to a computer screen. Our kids need our full attention when they're home. The other side of the coin is them not listening to us because they're busy "socializing". This trend, I believe, contributes to the breakdown of the family, which our society cannot afford. It's because of Shabbos & chagim that we stay connected properly.

Why people need to share every bit of their private life??? People are very curious but no one really cares!!! It's merely voyeurism (by our 659 lovely 'friends') and who need the social recognition of voyeurs?!!! Facebook, Tweeter and other social networks make us wasting time!!! Too much time we may use to enhance the relationships with family and friends!!! These do care of our life, but we prefer share it with others...

I agree with you 100%. We are going to far with this technology and its hurting us in certain ways. Lets go back to basics.That seemed to work for the world.

Hi Lory, I live in Chile south America, I don’t have Tweeter no FB, I do have Gmail and a cell phone, I still don’t understand why I should have to sheer my life with others than my husband and my children and sometimes with my friends and close family? I don’t have time and the wish to publicize my life...

To tweet or tweet tweet, or not to tweet Is not the question. To twitter is naturally human; To stop doing so, is unnatural and twittish, Avoided only by twits.

In this age and times, technology had enabled us to communicate to people, practically around the world. It's an amazing gift. I have got in contact with long lost friends and even family/relatives, finally met them again after 20-30 years, through some social website like FB. I don't Tweet, because I believe FB is good enough for me. I was a teacher, and it's so wonderful to be in touch with "My Kids" as I used to call them 30 some years ago. They still call and or email me, and talk to me now about their life, and most of the time ask me for advise, and I value that. I value that I can share with them the Principles of G-d, which otherwise, I would n't have done without this social networks.. But our privacy depends on us as individuals. We have the option to share as much or much less. To me it's only an avenue to reach out, but as to who you want to be with is all up to you. As long as our purpose is to communicate, to share and touch other people's lives through it, I find nothing wrong with it. You're right though, that we have to be cautious of what we share, and to whom we share. The privacy options in those websites, can. I do Facebook, and that's plenty to handle. To Tweet or not to Tweet? NO TWEETER for me. My goal in FB is to share G-D's words, to help inspire , enlighten, and to keep in touch with family and friends. And to share with them how I live my life, hoping they get inspired by it. Just like you inspire me! Thank you Lori.

I am in total agreement with you Ms. Frankel. Yashah Koach!

Does sharing or baring ones actions and thoughts so often (even about the mundane) eventually compromise a certain amount of modesty? Lori, you could make a great commentary on that. Thank you for all you do and share already.

Hi Lori. I am 51 years old, with three grown children who are not at home any more. I work, I go out, I study, I meet with friends and I also have email and facebook. I love it. I gave me the chance to be in touch with people I a do not have the chance to meet or even speak in the phone, like school friends I dind't see for 40, 30 years.... I am in touch with people that are preasious for me, I cheat with them in the facebook, even "deep" cheats, I find it to enreach me. As to privacy.... you are the one that decides what to keep in privace and what to share... and you are "friends" with whom you chose. As it is for everything... the important thing is not to exagerate, to put yourself the limit of time you dedicate to it.... As everything in the world - it can be pisitively used or not, like money for instance. It is like another thing in this world - you chose what to do with it... I enjoyed your comments. Thanks

What does it mean "to cheat" with them in the Facebook"?

I think Jenny meant to write "chat," not "cheat."

I had the same dilema ... I am already on fB and I think that it is enough time that I spend on computer ... anymore and I will be here all day... Maybe if I didn't have fB first I would have gone on tweet but as I chose fB first I'll stick to that.

Hi Lori, One of the reoccurring concepts in Aish articles, is the concept of the preciousness of every second of every day. Judaism enforces that we can never regain any second that has already past, so we should use our seconds, minutes, hours, as productively as we possibly can. Instead of just passing time in between "important" activities, we could be studying Torah, helping a friend, or practicing tikun olam. It is my opinion that facebook, twitter, blogs, texts, have gotten us away from our goals. We should be busy living our lives instead of "tweeting" about it.

I agree with you. It's enough sharing. Get a life - with real people.

I am not abig tweeter fan but i say you should definitely tweet. I agree nobody really cares when do you feel like having a coffe or so but i think it can make a great difference in the lifes of many if you tweet some wisdom everyday. We are jews and we are supposed to find ways to make things KADOSH. Maybe in facebook or tweeter wil help people to realise that. And let me know when you begin to tweet; i most certainly would love to hear your words on daily basis :) And Yom HaAtsmaut Sameach to all

. I have a facebook acnt, email etc.I ENJOY YOUR VIDEOS very much. I often feel like I have a pen pal friend on my computer when I see the Aish Lori- almost live comes on screen. I often send your videos to family and friends. I too have resisted tweeting. Time is too valuable and the whole world could care less when I go for coffee.

I joined the Chatzos group and these are healthy spiritual discussions with positive growth. It is fun and en powering at the same time. That is enough for me. I don't know how to text or have any of the other accounts other then e-mail . It is great .Keep up your great work for Klall Yisroel Sincerely nameless

We could be studying Torah or doing mitzvahs. And what about guarding our eyes. What people see on many facebook pages is not very wholesome. While some organizations benefit from the large numbers, I don't think social networks are necessary for most people and especially kids would be much better off without them.

Thanks for your views on tweeting. I couldn't have said it better.

Twitter is only one other thing technology and modern life has thrown at us. And like any other thing, I believe it has the potential to be used in and transformed into a motive to spread spirituality in an effective way. Are we not suppose to try to uplift any mundane thing in our life and focus it towards a jewish and spiritual path? Yes, if you use your twitter to let us know that your getting coffee at star bucks then i must agree with you, that is using twitter to cross a line. However I can't see a problem with tweeting about an act of charity you are so inspired about over twitter to share with your followers (obviously that was an example but you can use it to send inspirational quotes or other stories as-well). :) So I vote TWEET!!

objective i can't be! in my opinion it is not time to start. not today. not tomorrow, not in the foreseeable future. it's a ridiculous waste of time masquerading as an essential tool for keeping up (in touch.) and the same for facebook. i say fall out of touch a bit--you'll save precious time and have less agita.. i think social media is "faddish" (even though it's hear to stay) and intrusive. it goes too far.....way to far!

I don't even do facebook or linked-in. Email is a great tool, and phones (not necessarily cell phones unless you are away from home a lot) are impossible to do without. But I disable texting on my cell. If someone needs to contact me, let them call, email, leave me a voice message. I am a techie by nature, but these extras are just timewasters, and totally unnecessary-- and I feel, in many ways, breach the beauty of "mah tovu ohalecha yaakov" -- the privacy and personal space of a person, a Jewish home.

Hi Lori, I really think we can live without it ... I´m living without a facebook account and I really love technology .... i´ts not about being against technology it´s exactly what you said ... it´s about privacy and about having real friends instead of a 400 friends list who you don´t even know and who mostly don´t even care about your cup of cofee or your bad day ... i think it´s too much ... we for sure crossed the line ! Keep your privacy and people will still read your articles and hear your blog. Yoú are great !!! thanks for everything !

It started with Henry Ford's Model.. and then voila! the rest came! So it will be with this. Email. Facebook. Tweet. and ... et al. It's all distraction to me.. but look at how many people have this 'need.' It's a void that only The Creator can fill. It's an emptiness like the Nevada desert; " build it and they will come." Best wishes from Davida Geller Rosenberg

Tweeting AND FaceBook is nothing more than CHATTING! You don't chat online, so why would you tweet? It's a complete waste of time. Aha! But to send out your verbal columns . . . THAT is good. Tov miode.

...And I am not a bird. If I am aching for someone to know what my feelings are, then Hashem is Who Hears First. In this fast paced world, the 'sand' of our day gets wasted by the nonstop chatter accumulated by social media. Personally, I am rabid about privacy and this urge to tell the world about what goes on in my head, my heart, and my life does not appeal to me. What is there left to reveal to a true friend or confidant? Sooo, no Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, or any other "must have" social media for me. A bit of mystery always adds spice to any relationship, and there is no mystery left when one lets the world know her business.

TWITER IS FOR LOSSERS THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO IN THIER LIVES SO THEY SPEND THIER TIME TEXTING AND TALKING NONSES BECAUSE THIER LIVES ARE EMPTY

You take for granted that you have to do Facebook. Why? Why? just having email and cell is fine that's all you need? For example, you facebooked about Bin Laden's death on your facebook page? Why? Why? What was the point of that? No need for Twitter or Facebook. Time wasters.

i think facebook is more than enough. twitter is made to make people waste their precious time Hashem gave us here on earth.

Facebook and Twitter are merely online tools that permit socialization. I have no problem with people using it for the good it can do. My wife has a Facebook account that she rarely uses. I do not have a Facebook page nor Twitter account. I email, and that's it. All this said, if these tools are used for certain 'uplifting' thoughts and messages, that is fine. But as you stated in your video, to find out that you are going to Starbucks, for instance, is useless info for me, and probably for most people. My problem with these tools is the minutiae that people interchange. This in my mind only serves to clutter the mind. Mrs. Palatnik, may I ask what might be missing -- if anything-- from your life that you might attain from using Twitter? Conversely, what might be missing from your intended audience's life that might be made whole by reading your tweets? I believe that you are sharing your self positively and properly by simply doing your weekly video here on Aish.

i think people have lost their independence and have become incapable of living their own life. because people dislike, or seemingly dislike, spending time with themselves, they feel the need to involve themselves in everybody elses. but maybe its not really that complex and the reason is that man easily gets absorbed in and addicted to modern technology.

Nah Lori, most people haven't crossed a line. It's an imaginary line, who is to say what is too far?......... It's actually not social networking or sharing......Twitter and Facebook are exhibiting and isolating. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some people can drink one beer and enjoy it. Some choose to drink a case and get drunk. Some spend money to bankruptcy and others are prudent, while some buy a lottery ticket on their birthday and others buy them 3 times every day. It's not the Twitter site that is in question it is the gluttonous character of the people using it. Same with kids and cell phones. It is a wonderful way to see if your children are of an addictive character early on so you can guide them to better actions.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Same with my generation and TV and gossiping grapevines on the Telephone. Some people abuse every medium. Facebook and Twitter are not new, they are only updated communications. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you can't control it don't do Twitter or Facebook or any of the hundreds of other 'social' sites. If anyone thinks their kids have 'crossed a line' on social networks, deactivate their accounts and get rid of the computer.

Facebook, Tweeter and Skype are useful tools. I have two out of the three myself. However I have observed people being sucked in by these social networks. It starts to become the only way they connect. These social networks are a great supplement (not a substitute) to socializing. Moreover I think that a lot of people abuse these networks. Gossip is a problem in and of itself; we do not need it compounded by people using these networking to spread it. Furthermore one should be careful of the information put on these sites. One should consider the importance of the post before posting it, is it really something everyone needs to know.

no, nyet, don't!

My wife and I just came back from a trade convention. Everybody kept telling us our business has to be on Facebook, Twitter, etc. When I ask them for specifics on how it has helped their business, they have a hard time responding - it just does and everybody is doing it. I raise objections - we're a small business and we don't have the time, and what if someone decides to use the service against us (I have had experience with customers who try to maliciously spread lies about us on the internet already. It is extremely rare but there are all kinds of people.) I had to ask myself - if all this social networking stuff is so necessary for business today, why is our store growing sales faster than everyone else I met at the convention and we don't do any of it. I keep praying for the correct insight into the social networking world because I find myself resisting the latest and greatest while sensing a serious downside to it all yet not able to put my finger on what exactly it is that bothers me so much about what is going on. That's why I'm thankful that there are other people who are questioning this latest common knowledge.

Cel phones and email is wonderful. Facebook can be an important social network, but I question whether even this is overused. However, I do not question that the twitter accounts are going to far . Why does so much have to be put online? Why and for what gain does anyone have to know what I am doing? Where has the truly quiet and thoughtfully introspective time gone? And if we are going to devote the time to twitter, where is that time coming from? Personal interaction? Time to listen to our children? Time to communicate with Hashem? Time to reflect? Time to just be quiet?? And if we twitter, then we open up the avenue to a whole different venue for lashon harah on our own part as well as on the part of those who receive your twitter.

Dont Tweet....and while your at it...deactivate your faceook as well.

My idee. I also don't have a twitter or a facebook account. I love my private life and an email account is more than enough to share my life with friends. But maybe, maybe I am oldfashioned?

How some people on Facebook can claim 368 friends? One individual had over 3000 so call"Friends". Is that possible is that really friendship? I miss letters from friends and I have just few, face to face encounters etc. We are shortchanging our self and that is sad.

I think people need to just write all their private information in an old fashion diary.

Well, I think....just a moment. It's that time of the month, and I'm having problems so if you'll excuse me, I'll be right back...... Yes, some social media are indeed getting that bad. Too much information is too much information. We're not only losing privacy but personal integrity, as well. Even in personal conversation, some people think nothing about asking invasive questions to others and then feel indignant if their nosiness is not rewarded. It's disgusting.

I use social media for biz and its no question a powerful still fast growing channel of communication and more and more turning to it every day, we sure crossed a line but that's with HOW we use those lines of communication and we're as mature people responsible to make our own guidelines of what and how we'll use it for our own benefit, just like all things we get involved as Jewish people we need to take things with caution, Twitter sure gives you a powerful voice and ability to share your voice with more and new people and that sure has a great value in my opinion.

The "buzz" is that people are tweeting. I resisted messaging when I got one of these super cell phones that does it all, meaning internet, text message, email, and even takes dictation. Now I do message, for brief, on the spot, communication and do realize this is not Shakespeare. Yes, we are living in messaging universe, and face to face, seems to be going the way of, the "dodo". What we do, is actually avoid personal contact, in our desperation to maintain contact. A true paradox. It could be said, we are more connected to each other than ever, and more disconnected at the same time. It seems for every advance, there is a step backwards, something to think about. You are right. What is received is also what is taken away. My Mother mourned the loss of people at the library. It's not the same to be directed to an impersonal phone tree. In her aging she felt more lonely. Echoes of the Beatles, Aah, look at all the lonely people. We cannot get away from alone and all one, the paradox contained within the words themselves. Someone could die and others not know of it, and keep leaving messages on that person's voice mail. The art of living is lost when hugs occur most often in cyberspace. I do not tweet, but here I am, pouring my heart out on the internet, and surely messaging. How do we massage each other most effectively. What's the best message? We need both. We surely "knead" each other!

I agree, no facebook, no twitter. Use this time to speak to the one who really cares and can really give you the support and answers to all questions, Hashem! He loves to communicate with us and we can trust Him! As we squeeze in more and more of what the world says we must have in our daily schedules, sadly the time cut to do this is usually our time with him or our family, the ones who mean the most to us.

I don´t have any social network accounts. I want to keep my private live ... private. Technologic fever side by side with consumer-oriented needs, without any spiritual or ethical guidance is a very threatening matter. We must be very careful not to "cross the line".

Is your video blog revealing too much? Do we really need to hear your opinion on various subjects? Well that depends if people will find it useful and many people do. For others their text or video blogs are vanity-wastes of time. A tool is just that and it depends how you use it. Share what you think is valuable and don't share what isn't. Twitter is a universal data feed which can be very useful if used correctly. Learn about it and make an informed decision. And you right, don't use it to tell us you're going to get a cup of coffee.

we have most certainly crossed the line. Over the passed several weeks I have learned the following about a number of friends and relatives from family members who are active communicators on these social networks: a) "Tom" has become addicted to pain medication and lost his job b) "Mary" had bladder surgery c) "Jane" is pregnant (2-3 weeks not 5-6 months) d) "Dick" and "Jill" are divorcing e) "Debbie" had a hysterectomy f) "John" and "Joan" have begun their infertility treatments g) “Pete's” biopsy results were . . . Okay, I made up some, but not all. But the information on these networks undeniably don't stop at which coffee shop we visited. They have taken away all privacy and therefore all sanctity from our lives. This sort of dirty-laundry hanging is simply a symptom of a society who has lost all sense of holiness and meaning. When everything can be aired in public, nothing has any value. Would anyone think of releasing the appraisals of their engagement ring or diamond necklace? Would anyone consider publicizing their stock portfolios? Whatever we value, we hide. Some value time. Some value family and family life. The sages of the Talmud teach, "Reveal one tefach, but cover two." If this is so within the privacy of our own homes, how much more so is it true out in the open? These networks devalue whatever part of our lives we reveal. You should avoid them at all costs unless specifically advised otherwise.

No Facebook no Twitter -- too much info out there in cyberspace even without them.

After being urged by friends that I "have" to use twitter, I finally opened an account and started "tweeting." I didn't really "get it" like you said. But I decided to just start and see what happens before I decided it was useless and shallow. I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised by my Twitter experience. If I just tweeted about myself, no one would want to follow me (except my mother) so now whenever I ready or hear an interesting article or event I quickly post it. Well, I quickly realized that it was an opportunity to share information and publicize people and organizations that I love and would love to help. Rabbis that taught me, dance schools doing good work, inspiring articles. Instead of it all being about promoting myself, it has become a way to share in promoting others...which in turn has promoted myself and my product. What I like about following others...it's not like email, where I feel a commitment to read all the "stuff" people send me. I can quickly scan all the thoughts, news, articles that other people are posting and quickly zone in on the few that are most interesting to me. When I pass someone's "tweet" by, I don't feel bad or obligated because it's just a "FYI" not a message for me specifically. Of course, everything can get carried away and it's not a replacement for real, deep, face to face friendship. But is is a way to quickly see what's going on and where people are at and help the people I support spread their positive messages of Judaism and life. Good luck figuring all this social media out with the rest of us!!!! Rebbetzin Tap www.rebbetzintap.com

Great point and very true!

Lori, you don't have to get a Twitter account if you're too on the fence about it. Many people have Twitter accounts and all too often they disclose TMI. I heard of one would-be mother who tweeted that she had a miscarriage from giving birth to a child - clearly TMI!...As for me, I don't have a Twitter account since I feel smart enough not to tell the world all my tabs and highlights of the day - just e-mails and phone calls mostly to family members and those who I trust to have private conversations. I almost never even post updates of what's on my mind on Facebook (other than following other's posts where I can determine how relevant my life moments are to others sharing mostly on pages I like). All in all, keeping tabs ought to be kept simple, especially if one is not a celebrity. By keeping it simple, just send encrypted e-mails, texts, and phone calls to those one trusts.

I use twitter for a number of reasons. One of which is for support . The women i have met who were also dealing with infertility are amazing. These are online friends who i can talk to about the day to day emotional roller coaster of infertility. I tried to talk to "real life" friends about it, only to get bad (and unsolicited) advice and general stupid comments. I admit my twitter account is basically anonymous. Only a couple of people i know "real life" know me there. Twitter is where i am free to kvetch (anonymously) about the day to day things and people understand and are supportive.