- Twitterserye: How Twitter brings out Filipinos’ love for good stories
- Filipinos flock to Twitter to read the latest storytelling craze
- Allowing Filipinos to showcase their writing prowess and share their work
Twitter has always been the go-to platform to know #WhatsHappening at present.
Every day is a chance for a topic to trend and become a surefire conversation starter.
In fact, Filipinos worldwide seem to be hooked on a phenomenon that’s been making the rounds in the local Twitterverse lately.
Creative storytelling has dominated the trend list and earned its label as #Twitterserye.
Twitterserye, just by its name, means series or stories on Twitter.
The stories are mostly fan fictions and are built up through threads and replies to make the narrative snackable and interactive.
The thread feature also makes reading more convenient, especially for readers who want to Retweet their favorite lines from the story.
Here’s how Twitter helped in making good stories and fandoms come alive:
1. An avenue to showcase talents
More than just expressing opinions, Twitter allows Filipinos to showcase their writing prowess and share their work.
A Twitterserye titled By Mistake became a hot buzz just recently, and people loved it as it captured classic Filipino romantic comedy themes.
By Mistake is a KathNiel social serye that tells the love and hate relationship of Ivor and Lily.
It all started when Lily had a fight with Ivor over a wrong Grab message.
Interestingly, it is also penned by Gwy Saludes (@4reuminct), the same author behind the other smashing Twitterserye hit, Along Espana.
https://twitter.com/frostfambam/status/1094455241242664961
https://twitter.com/4reuminct/status/1147098016546902016
That "Along España" KN story thread exudes a huge stan twt energy and I luv it.
That goes to say that being a fan isn't something of a waste. It becomes an avenue of creativity for people who are struggling to find the medium to express themselves.
— P’Migs씨 | Senior Year Era (@OMNOMNOMingMigs) February 18, 2019
Gwy proved that the 280 character limit is not a hindrance in telling a compelling story on Twitter.
In fact, the use of threads and replies to mimic an actual conversation gives it a fresh and authentic appeal. She has inspired fellow fans to become storytellers on their own and more importantly, share it online for everyone to enjoy.
2. Nurturing fan communities
Fans mostly use Twitter to get real-time updates about their favorite artists and loveteams.
It also enables them to post fan art, poems, and other creative means of expressing their love and support.
What makes Twitterserye unique is that it gives them a super dose of kilig and entertainment.
Fans are buckled up for a feels trip as the story progresses, and they simply can’t help but share their reactions online.
KATULAD NIYO, NAGHIHINTAY LANG DIN AKO NG UPDATE KAY IVO, LILY AT CALLIYAH YES CALLIYAH WITH AN H, THAT BITCH.
— mark geronimo (@markgeronimo_) July 11, 2019
the most talked about topic in stan twitter and in local twitter let’s all hail the one and only along españa and loveteam of the year, jared and avery
sino yung kath and dj chos
— ™ (@kataydall) February 18, 2019
Twitter tl rn:
Jared and Avy
Drowning tigers
“Waiting” shed
Pula
Zombie deer
AVERY AND JARED
Harapan2019
Along España
“Avery very good fandom”
JARED AND AVERY— 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓭𝔂𝓮𝔂 (@cjbrynmgtby) February 18, 2019
Fandoms unite and get enthusiastic whenever a new Twitterserye shows up.
They found the stories relatable and as if it is based on true-to-life characters or experiences.
In the process, it has enriched the interactions among the community and encouraged people even outside the fandom to jump into the conversation.
It took me almost an hour to finish that indulging “twitterserye.” Here are my thoughts:
1) relatable ang group chats ng both parties;
2) ang panget ng camera phone ni calli based sa last photo niya kay ivor;
3) formulaic ang structure pero NASAAN NA ANG UPDATE FOR TODAYYY???
— jombits (@jombitskee) July 10, 2019
a fake social media kathniel fanfic has united all of filipino twitter. walang gulong nagaganap sa tl ko. lahat, focused sa karupokan ni ivo. is this world peace????
— aillah hiatus era (@thranduilien) July 11, 2019
3. Bringing fans and the stars closer
Any fan’s wish is to be noticed by their favorite stars.
Through Twitter, fans and their idols get closer together just by enjoying the same thing: reading Twitterseryes.
By Mistake and Along Espana became such a hit that even celebrities like Kathryn Bernardo and Sofia Andres, who were both reimagined as characters in the story, noticed the thread and reacted to the series.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1097471236937076736
https://twitter.com/iamsofiaandres/status/1149275748735131648
What’s more interesting is that besides getting close with the artists, fans who have authored their own series also gained avid readers of their own.
Gwy, for example, got plenty of opportunities to present and hone her craft especially after Along Espana took Twitterverse by storm.
The future of Twitterserye looks promising and it being successful in the platform proved that good stories indeed never fail.
Check out #Twitterserye to see other seryes around the platform, and to join the conversation!
