Why is the NWS only searching for reports sent via Twitter and not from other micro-blogging services (e.g., FriendFeed, Tumblr)?
Only one micro-blogging service is being used at this time, as the NWS gains experience using this type of social media outlet. Already a well-established social media outlet, Twitter’s user-base exceeds other micro-blogging services at this time. This affords this project, a large audience of users already familiar with Twitter. In addition, Twitter is the only micro-blogging service for which the Department of Commerce (the NWS is part of DOC) has approved a version of the Terms of Service agreement. As the market environment for micro-blogging services evolves, the NWS will consider the benefits of making use of additional micro-blogging services or revisiting the choice of a particular service.
