Social media universe goes all aTwitter over #RevereKids

REVERE – The youth of Revere claimed a social media spotlight on Wednesday, when a topic about them unexpectedly went viral on Twitter, sparking a discussion about what it means to be from Revere.The social media tool Twitter, which allows users to send messages up to 140 characters long, is known for being of-the-moment, instantly documenting what is happening among its estimated 175 million or so users.On Wednesday, Revere youth used Twitter to talk about their lives in the city, everything from spending time at Revere Beach to stereotypes of people who live in the city. Some used the hashtag to sling insults about Revere culture as well.Users can mark specific words in their message with a pound sign as a way to categorize their message, a method known as “hashtag” – in this case #RevereKids. When a hashtag takes off in popularity, Twitter can flag it as a trending topic on its Internet homepage.Twitter uses complex algorithms based on who a user follows and where he or she lives to determine what topics are trending in that moment.?This algorithm identifies topics that are immediately popular, rather than topics that have been popular for a while or on a daily basis, to help you discover the hottest emerging topics of discussion on Twitter that matter most to you,” according to Twitter?s website.Every organization using Twitter to spread its message hopes for the kind of instant regional fame #RevereKids had Wednesday, said Linda Brantley, the director of new media for North Shore Community College.?Every organization that starts a hashtag hopes to start a trend,” Brantley said.But Brantley said that usually takes lots of hard work and time as organizations try to build a solid foundation of followers by tweeting daily, even hourly, interesting information relating to their cause and hoping some of that information goes viral.?It?s a process, but it?s a process that can change in an instant, so you have to build your brand, you have to be out there,” she said.The #RevereKids trend didn?t require nearly as much planning, according to some of those who participated in it.Revere native Matt DiGiantommaso said he woke up and saw a few of his Twitter followers using the hashtag and decided to chime in.?I had no idea it was trending until I noticed someone else mention it,” said the 25-year-old in an email to The Daily Item.Odell Tyler, a former student of Garfield Middle School, tweeted, “I believe it happened overnight, so I have no idea on how it originally started.”This video was one of the many trending on Twitter yesterday about #reverekidsMany Twitter followers who spoke to The Daily Item via their Twitter accounts said talk of their town went viral because Revere is a close-knit community full of hometown pride.?We are a very tight ?family,? I would call it,” DiGiantommaso wrote. “We always stick together no matter what, it?s great to have that type of feeling where no matter where you are, you find someone from Revere and they just get it.”Tyler tweeted, “#RevereKids are determined to keep this going, Revere may not be the best city but we take pride in it.”[View the story “#RevereKids sends social media aTwitter” on Storify]Like anything, as the popularity of the trend grew, it attracted more negativity. Comments about the city?s racial diversity and Italian mob stereotypes were as common as positive remarks about the beauty of Revere Beach and playing ball at Hill Park.Lynn resident Marki Conway, who followed the trend on Wednesday, said the comments she observed among youth and even adults from Revere, Chelsea and Lynn were reflecting a poor image of their cities. A public relations professional, Conway said she believes social media should be used “as a tool for positive change, not negative or misleading perceptions.”?There have been some people, very few, bragging about positive aspects of Revere, but they are drowned out by negative comments,” said Conway. “People are bragging about their city being more ghetto a