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According to StasticBrain.com, the total number of registered Twitter users as of May 7, 2013 is 554,750,000. As we are about to close the year 2013, we can all say with confidence that this statistic is just getting bigger and bigger. Why people retweeet may be considered like a no-brainer, but really, why do we retweet things we see on Twitter? What is the psychology behind this very ubiquitous social media behaviour? First, we retweet because we want to share tweets we find relevant to our followers. This applies most especially to current events, news headlines and other happenings that affect us and our followers whether locally and internationally. By retweeting, it prevents us from committing plagiarism even when we do not intend to. With the 140 character limit per tweet, there is a tendency to come up with tweets that are similar to the rest. Instead of registering as Twitter plagiarists, to retweet is the most ‘noble’ act to do. At the end of the day, there are just people who are better at saying thoughts that are similar to ours. Hence, the ubiquity of retweeting. Second, we retweet when we want to want to echo someone else’s thought. Instead of replying with ‘I agree with this!’, retweeting is a work of affirmation minus the extra work of typing supportive words. To have your tweet retweeted works as a validation too of our thoughts. It can make us feel like ‘Hey, he found my tweet relevant and it is on his Twitter feed!”. Even in online media, we vouch on whatever validation we can get about ourselves and the work we do. Retweeting can make us feel good about ourselves. Third, we retweet when we want to gain more followers. A possible subtext of retweeting is that “I found your tweet relevant and so you must do the favour of following me back so we can engage more”. This kind of psychology works for digital marketers behind brands, companies and businesses who want to expand their market’s reach. When brands, companies and businesses retweet ideas from other people, it means that they took time to read and echo what they just said and it is a powerful feeling that random Twitteratis can keep to themselves. It’s that warm fuzzy feeling that can keep them going, tweeting what they have on their minds and inevitably, follow those who retweeted them as a form of appreciation. Wouldn’t you follow your favourite cafe or clothing apparel’s Twitter account back after they have affirmed one of your tweets? Of course you will. Fourth, we retweet because we want others to know what is going on. A universal Twitter behaviour is to be the first to know whatever that piece of newsworthy information is. Countless anecdotes would say that they tweeted about an ongoing earthquake first before docking to safer grounds. If there are news such as a road accident, a political upheaval or a popular personality just died, retweeting is the best and immediate way to get the word around. Twitter accounts of news organisations are great accounts to follow. You have access to real time news and you don’t need to find a television to access the news. Aside from Twitter accounts of news organisation, Twitter accounts that are great to follow are those of anchors and media personalities who can put you at the forefront of the news. Ultimately, there is a psychology behind our retweeting behaviour. For some, it may even be called an instinct.
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