SEARCHING the word "Ballarat" on mircoblogging website Twitter will deliver thousands of results, showing how much the social media platform has become part of digital life in the city.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Local businesses and individuals are part of the estimated 300 million users worldwide turning their opinions, experiences and communications into 140 character long "tweets" every day and experts believe Ballarat is set to gain from the boom.
Created in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley in 2006, Twitter carries hundreds of Ballarat related posts every day with content as varied as news, sport results, political debates and communication between friends.
Online communications expert Janelle Yates of the Ballarat-based Little PR Company said Twitter gave regional cities the chance to show off their best elements.
“Twitter is becoming more commonly used for social movements and has a real ability to represent a community well,” she said.
“If you look at the recent Civic Hall drama, it is a prime example of how it can be a voice for public opinion and debate.”
She said the creation of an account for V/Line Ballarat train services showed that online communication could be good and bad.
“A lot of people are using Twitter to ask questions of
V/Line and find out about late trains or other changes.
“Twitter can become a negative like any other form of communication when the same messages are constantly driven and lose their strength,” Ms Yates said.
An account created by former Ballarat mayor Craig Fletcher was recently closed as Cr Mark Harris took over the role, but the City of Ballarat continues to promote events and announcements via @CityofBallarat.
The Courier
