There’s a temptation to think of Twitter as it once was.  As recently as 3 years ago there were very few physicians using Twitter.  Early physician adopters enjoyed a tighter experience than today.  Everyone followed everyone and actually finding another doctor was cause for celebration.  It was a cocktail party – less a tool as much as a place to goof off.  It was easier in many respects.

But Twitter seems to be evolving from a curious toy to a more focused space of sharing among the like-minded.  I see new docs play out this broader evolution of Twitter:  near obsessive early preoccupation gives way to the question of how it can actually work for them.  Experimentation with relationships gives way to connections that are more likely to give us what we really need.

We’ve hit a point where many physicians on Twitter are looking beyond the cocktail party.  There are simply too many of us.  As a consequence of nothing other than our numbers, we’re increasingly divergent.  Values, interests, and motivations vary – we gravitate to the like-minded.  In some respects Twitter’s evolving practicality is a good thing.  But it comes with a cost.  I don’t know how and if it can be countered.

As much as Twitter is different now compared to 3 years ago, don’t get used to it.  Things never stay the same.