Often overlooked, the phatic function is a sort of linguistic ping that serves to maintain connection to others. Perhaps it also holds the key to a successful business model for Twitter.
FriendFeed-ing Frenzy
It has been a rough stretch for Twitter. Despite another influx of funding, continued downtime and issues with terms of service policies served as a final straw from some members of the community. Where Twitter seems to have held off Jaiku and Pownce, it is an uber-aggregator of microcontent—FriendFeed—that has become the destination of choice among disgruntled twitterers.