Despite Twitter India shedding its workforce in Bengaluru, the microblogging platform remains strong as ever among the city's opinion makers. But the massive 3.26 lakh follower base of the city police account has not rubbed off on the civic agencies. Mostly inactive, the Twitter handles of BBMP, Bescom and BMTC have failed to make an impact, wasting the platform's potential to seriously connect with the citizens.
The informative and interactive police handle has a competitor in the Bengaluru Traffic Police. Hyperactive @blrcitytraffic, this constantly tweeted handle has attracted 1.58 lakh followers so far. But beyond these accounts, the only official handle that has gained some traction with the Twitterati is the Mayor's account @BBMP_MAYOR with 11,000 followers.
Struggling to find a successful revenue model, Twitter might be up for sale by the year-end. But as a social media platform, Twitter has found its huge user base in India on the growth path, with Bengaluru leading its initial spurt in popularity. The growth remains robust, as social media experts acknowledge.
Topping the list of most followed Bengaluru-based Tweeps is Royal Challengers @RCBTweets with an astounding 1.51 million followers. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with 1.36 million, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with 8.53 lakh, Biocon chief, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (8.26 lakh) and Ramesh Srivats (8.38 lakh) are among top tweeters.
Twitter growth
Seven years ago, the city's tech-geeks were the first to jump on to the then nascent Twitter bandwagon. "It was a platform for techies to get together, solve their tech problems by interacting directly with top engineers based in the US. Bengaluru was the fist to crowdsource information through Twitter," recalls V Shakthi, the most followed differently-abled Indian.
But Twitter's user-base quickly grew beyond the techies. Groups linked to autism, parenting, environment and varied other topics found a Twitter handle the best way to ferret out information from sources worldwide. In Bengaluru, Twitter will always grow, reasons Tinu Cherian Abraham, a social media activist with over 2.9 lakh followers.
"India itself has been traditionally very social and internet has made it easier. Orkut, for instance, had a huge user-base here even when it became unpopular elsewhere. More and more people are getting online, linking up through the platform with brands, celebrities and services," Abraham elaborates.
Twopcharts.com, a portal that tracks Twitter users by city, has recorded 231 Tweeps in Bengaluru with over 10,000 followers. Among the most followed are social media influencers, spiritual gurus, Kannada filmstars, musicians and magicians.
The informative and interactive police handle has a competitor in the Bengaluru Traffic Police. Hyperactive @blrcitytraffic, this constantly tweeted handle has attracted 1.58 lakh followers so far. But beyond these accounts, the only official handle that has gained some traction with the Twitterati is the Mayor's account @BBMP_MAYOR with 11,000 followers.
Struggling to find a successful revenue model, Twitter might be up for sale by the year-end. But as a social media platform, Twitter has found its huge user base in India on the growth path, with Bengaluru leading its initial spurt in popularity. The growth remains robust, as social media experts acknowledge.
Topping the list of most followed Bengaluru-based Tweeps is Royal Challengers @RCBTweets with an astounding 1.51 million followers. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with 1.36 million, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with 8.53 lakh, Biocon chief, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (8.26 lakh) and Ramesh Srivats (8.38 lakh) are among top tweeters.
Twitter growth
Seven years ago, the city's tech-geeks were the first to jump on to the then nascent Twitter bandwagon. "It was a platform for techies to get together, solve their tech problems by interacting directly with top engineers based in the US. Bengaluru was the fist to crowdsource information through Twitter," recalls V Shakthi, the most followed differently-abled Indian.
But Twitter's user-base quickly grew beyond the techies. Groups linked to autism, parenting, environment and varied other topics found a Twitter handle the best way to ferret out information from sources worldwide. In Bengaluru, Twitter will always grow, reasons Tinu Cherian Abraham, a social media activist with over 2.9 lakh followers.
"India itself has been traditionally very social and internet has made it easier. Orkut, for instance, had a huge user-base here even when it became unpopular elsewhere. More and more people are getting online, linking up through the platform with brands, celebrities and services," Abraham elaborates.
Twopcharts.com, a portal that tracks Twitter users by city, has recorded 231 Tweeps in Bengaluru with over 10,000 followers. Among the most followed are social media influencers, spiritual gurus, Kannada filmstars, musicians and magicians.
Despite Twitter India shedding its workforce in Bengaluru, the microblogging platform remains strong as ever among the city’s opinion makers. But the massive 3.26 lakh follower base of the city police account has not rubbed off on the civic agencies. Mostly inactive, the Twitter handles of BBMP, Bescom and BMTC have failed to make an impact, wasting the platform’s potential to seriously connect with the citizens.
The informative and interactive police handle has a competitor in the Bengaluru Traffic Police. Hyperactive @blrcitytraffic, this constantly tweeted handle has attracted 1.58 lakh followers so far. But beyond these accounts, the only official handle that has gained some traction with the Twitterati is the Mayor’s account @BBMP_MAYOR with 11,000 followers.
Struggling to find a successful revenue model, Twitter might be up for sale by the year-end. But as a social media platform, Twitter has found its huge user base in India on the growth path, with Bengaluru leading its initial spurt in popularity. The growth remains robust, as social media experts acknowledge.
Topping the list of most followed Bengaluru-based Tweeps is Royal Challengers @RCBTweets with an astounding 1.51 million followers. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with 1.36 million, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with 8.53 lakh, Biocon chief, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (8.26 lakh) and Ramesh Srivats (8.38 lakh) are among top tweeters.
Twitter growth
Seven years ago, the city’s tech-geeks were the first to jump on to the then nascent Twitter bandwagon. "It was a platform for techies to get together, solve their tech problems by interacting directly with top engineers based in the US. Bengaluru was the fist to crowdsource information through Twitter,” recalls V Shakthi, the most followed differently-abled Indian.
But Twitter’s user-base quickly grew beyond the techies. Groups linked to autism, parenting, environment and varied other topics found a Twitter handle the best way to ferret out information from sources worldwide. In Bengaluru, Twitter will always grow, reasons Tinu Cherian Abraham, a social media activist with over 2.9 lakh followers.
"India itself has been traditionally very social and internet has made it easier. Orkut, for instance, had a huge user-base here even when it became unpopular elsewhere. More and more people are getting online, linking up through the platform with brands, celebrities and services,” Abraham elaborates.
Twopcharts.com, a portal that tracks Twitter users by city, has recorded 231 Tweeps in Bengaluru with over 10,000 followers. Among the most followed are social media influencers, spiritual gurus, Kannada filmstars, musicians and magicians.
The informative and interactive police handle has a competitor in the Bengaluru Traffic Police. Hyperactive @blrcitytraffic, this constantly tweeted handle has attracted 1.58 lakh followers so far. But beyond these accounts, the only official handle that has gained some traction with the Twitterati is the Mayor’s account @BBMP_MAYOR with 11,000 followers.
Struggling to find a successful revenue model, Twitter might be up for sale by the year-end. But as a social media platform, Twitter has found its huge user base in India on the growth path, with Bengaluru leading its initial spurt in popularity. The growth remains robust, as social media experts acknowledge.
Topping the list of most followed Bengaluru-based Tweeps is Royal Challengers @RCBTweets with an astounding 1.51 million followers. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with 1.36 million, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with 8.53 lakh, Biocon chief, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (8.26 lakh) and Ramesh Srivats (8.38 lakh) are among top tweeters.
Twitter growth
Seven years ago, the city’s tech-geeks were the first to jump on to the then nascent Twitter bandwagon. "It was a platform for techies to get together, solve their tech problems by interacting directly with top engineers based in the US. Bengaluru was the fist to crowdsource information through Twitter,” recalls V Shakthi, the most followed differently-abled Indian.
But Twitter’s user-base quickly grew beyond the techies. Groups linked to autism, parenting, environment and varied other topics found a Twitter handle the best way to ferret out information from sources worldwide. In Bengaluru, Twitter will always grow, reasons Tinu Cherian Abraham, a social media activist with over 2.9 lakh followers.
"India itself has been traditionally very social and internet has made it easier. Orkut, for instance, had a huge user-base here even when it became unpopular elsewhere. More and more people are getting online, linking up through the platform with brands, celebrities and services,” Abraham elaborates.
Twopcharts.com, a portal that tracks Twitter users by city, has recorded 231 Tweeps in Bengaluru with over 10,000 followers. Among the most followed are social media influencers, spiritual gurus, Kannada filmstars, musicians and magicians.