CNN 2011-01-31（在线收听）

“What we’re now able to do is connect government to people, people to people, people to government.”

Is Twitter the latest diplomatic tool of choice? As more government officials turn to tweets, the media debates whether the technology is good- or bad- for followers. Phoenix-based KNXV explains how the U.S. State Department is using the 140-character updates.

“The department in fact is bypassing traditional news outlets to try and connect directly and in real time with overseas audiences in the throes of unrest and upheaval. In recent days, department spokesman PJ Crowley has tweeted to knock down rumors, amplify U.S. policy positions and appeal for calm and even to try and urge reforms in countries like Haiti and Lebanon.”

But even though more officials are taking to Twitter-  an expert reminds NBC- the technology is still new.

“This hasn’t been done before at the State Department or any other U.S. agency that I’m aware of. So we’re creating something from scratch.”

But critics say government relations on the Web could be controversial. Bloomberg News reports, Twitter’s cancelation of a scheduled maintenance at the request of government officials has raised some eyebrows.

“It’s also a threat to the extent that it raises political risks. And the blog post that Biz Stone, Twitter’s founder, put up seemed very carefully worded. It says ‘we agree that free flow of information is important, but at the same time we’re not an arm of the state department. They don’t have any say in our decision making.’”

American leaders aren’t the only ones experimenting with political tweets. An Irish political party gearing up to select its new leader caused a stir last week after tweeting its preference.

“The tweet was ‘retweeted’ hundreds of times to an audience of tens of thousands of people around the country.”

Alec Ross tells CNN that this mass move to the Web means more than just keeping up with the times.

“The technology in and of itself is not what’s interesting and what’s important. What’s interesting and important are the goals technology can help produce.”

According to Reuters, Twitter is set to triple its advertising revenue this year. The social networking site is currently valued at $3.7 billion.