Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics?

Posted on November 18, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

Since Twitter has “jumped the shark” from earlier this year, trending topics seem to have less value than ever. Random tends such as #blackthoughts and #whitethoughts which are trending one and two now are more about jokes, free will expression and spam, than sharing or posting valuable content. Also besides the spammers, some “Trending Topic seekers” are tweeting things that really should never be said online, ever. Recently Brian Solis of FutureWorks wrote, Do Twitter’s Trending Topics Signify What’s Important to You?. My answer in the comments was no. Also I stated that Twitter could use services like topsy.com, bit.ly or Tweetmeme to better filter trending topics based on links or tweets that I have tweeted based off of their api. Also with the new geo api Twitter could show me Trending Topics not only by what I have previously tweeted but by location and popular tweet content near by.

Personally at the current state of Trending Topics and with the growth of new Twitter users I think Twitter should stop displaying Trending Topics until they can make it more valuable. Also I’ve heard from many individuals say they don’t even look at or use Trending Topics anymore or care about Trending Topics for that matter.

Twitter though is acknowledging the Trending Topics problem on a recent blog post called: Get to the Point: Twitter Trends. Post excerpt:
As Twitter grows and the number of tweets each day continues to astound us, we’ve noticed an increasing amount of clutter in the public timeline, especially with trending topics. Trends began as a useful way to find out what’s going on but has grown less interesting due to the noisiness of the conversation.

So, today we’re starting to experiment with improvements to trends that will help you find more relevant tweets. Specifically, we’re working to show higher quality results for trend queries by returning tweets that are more useful.

Good luck with improving Trending Topics but unlike the list and retweet roll-out, I think Twitter should hide Trending Topics everywhere on the site until it’s fixed.

Your Thoughts or Take the Poll below?

Talk Social News Episode 12: Talking Whuffi w...

Share post bit.ly url: http://bit.ly/3wWaAx

About the Author

Written by Wayne Sutton

Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag. For more, follow SocialWayne.com on Twitter, Buzz, and Facebook. Also check out the SocialWayne Podcast in iTunes. See all posts by Wayne Sutton.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 3:09 pm and is filed under Featured, Twitter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View Comments

We'd love to hear yours!

Visit My Website

November 18, 2009

Permalink

The Gourmez said:

I also find little value in trending topics, especially since I rarely use twitter through their page, so I don’t really see the trends at all. But I don’t see any reason why they should be removed when people do use them and enjoy them, even if only for jokes. There’s no wrong or right rules about what should be trending.
Visit My Website

November 18, 2009

Permalink

Wayne Sutton said:

Gourmez I agree there are no right or wrong rules about what should be trending but trending topics are clearly being “abused” & spammed. Like I mentioned in the post even twitter says there is a problem with Trending Topics and if that’s the case fix it or kill it.

Thanks for the comments
Visit My Website

November 18, 2009

Permalink

Greg said:

Trending Topics was much more useful when it wasn’t part of Twitter, back when it was just summize. It’s especially unhelpful when search its self is so crippled that it’s hardly of use, I think that cap on items is 10 days, it used to go back months.

Plus it speaks volumes when the majority of tweets in trending topics is “why is (topic x) trending?”
Visit My Website

December 9, 2009

Permalink

ChaCha Fance said:

YES YES YES!!! They definitely should get rid of TT. They’re garbage now – pointless – a waste of time!!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

Jeff Turner - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Liz - 18. Nov, 2009
Interesting position: RT: @WayneSutton New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Tomislav Savov - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Nukirk Digi.tal - 18. Nov, 2009
I'm NOT gonna lecture about #blackthoughts. I'll let @waynesutton do it for me. http://bit.ly/4lWJHS
Black Tweets - 18. Nov, 2009
A question whose time has come: RT @WayneSutton Is it time 4 Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Jonathan Pitts-Wiley - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @BlackTwitterati A question whose time has come RT @WayneSutton Is it time 4 Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Corvida - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/3wWaAx
April Davis - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @BlackTwitterati A question whose time has come RT @WayneSutton Is it time 4 Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Peter Ulstrup Hansen - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @corvida: RT @waynesutton Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/3wWaAx
moses the 3rd - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @corvida: RT @waynesutton Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/3wWaAx [Fix it, or kill it]
Jenny G - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? | Social Wayne on the Social Web http://bit.ly/28ABru
Jill Harper - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? | Social Wayne on the Social Web http://bit.ly/28ABru RT @12C4
Britney Francis - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @mosaeus: RT @corvida: RT @waynesutton Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/3wWaAx [Fix it, or kill it] <~agreed
Brendan McManus - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? | Social Wayne on the Social Web http://bit.ly/1XWNVU #news #twitter
Chad - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
topsy top20k - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Tweet Ninja - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? | Social Wayne on the Social Web http://bit.ly/1BG32d
#twitter
dacs - 18. Nov, 2009
GR:Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? B! http://j.mp/3ufZxc
(jeff)isageek - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://ff.im/-bFDlK
stopthespam - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: New blog post: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://socialwayne.com/p18l
Bob Tarver - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/16dmrr ummm my vote is yes
Travel Industry - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @raffale RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
grayson roquemour - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
;] - 18. Nov, 2009
Good idea RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Linda Evans - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips time 4 Twitter 2 kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn <- no-how will I know who died 2day?
Roberto Blake - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @raffale: RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Michael Taboada - 18. Nov, 2009
no! RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Mike F - 18. Nov, 2009
Yes!RT @michael_taboada no! RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
.LAG - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: "Time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics?" http://bit.ly/3wWaAx — tough call, there are topics that do 'trend' naturally
AnumodKumar S - 18. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq
Ivan Mili? - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/16dmrr
Cheryl Flynn - 18. Nov, 2009
Becoming vulgar,distasteful RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/16dmrr
A. J. Sequeira - 18. Nov, 2009
Yes! RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq
David Kingston - 18. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Anthony Stevens - 18. Nov, 2009
Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bi.. http://bit.ly/17vfDp via @YoTwits
SKUNKT - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Warren Bennett - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn // YES.
John Stonebridge - 19. Nov, 2009
could be right… RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
etherealvision - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn |Yes, it is.|
Ute Sch. - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
2media Online-Verlag - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/16dmrr via @CleoBe
Lana Lae - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Christian M. - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Real Estate Tips - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @dielen_dest RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share.. http://bit.ly/1dKUM5
Stefanie Wood - 19. Nov, 2009
Yes, its full of spam! RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Daniel Barta - 19. Nov, 2009
r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn (via @Twitter_Tips)
Ishwar Kanse - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn
Genaro Bardy - 19. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/4CeQSS
Jean-Marie Gall - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @naro: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/4CeQSS
Shannica Thomas - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/16dmrr
Nichol - 19. Nov, 2009
Out of trend: twitter trending topics ? http://socialwayne.com/2009/11/18/twitter-trending-topics-spam/
Vance Miller - 19. Nov, 2009
Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq (via @twitter_tips) I say no.
Khaleef Crumbley - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://bit.ly/1aR0Ep
gurdeep singh - 19. Nov, 2009
RT @Twitter_Tips: r/t Is it time for Twitter to kill Trending Topics? http://j.mp/knzqq –Share: http://bit.ly/4rjWfn

Here's your chance to speak.

Click here to cancel reply.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Subscribe

The Social Wayne blog covers: Blogging, Social Media, Location Based Services, Marketing, Gadgets, Social Networks, Events and Mobile Technology.

Enter your email address below to subscribe to SocialWayne.com and recieve blog post in your email inbox.

Connect

Wayne Sutton helps individuals, startups and businesses succeed in understanding how to communicate on the social web via brand strategy, social networks and location-based services. Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag.