The ubiquitous and increasingly significant status message

The status message has evolved from its slow beginnings into a multidimensional feature and service addressing numerous social needs. Numerous companies provide status message account-management services for other companies, organizations, and individuals. Status messages are typically written in the third person, making them similar to announcements on news tickers, such as those seen on major television news channels. The Twitter application-program interface also allows the integration of Twitter with other Web services and applications. People use status messages to share information and opinions, and this information has a notable effect on people's behaviors. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents reported they have posted information concerning something they wanted to purchase in order to get opinions prior to purchase.