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Twitter was founded in San Francisco, but it’s used by people in nearly every country in the world. The service is available in more than 20 languages; you can change your language preference in your user settings with just a few clicks. And, no! Creolise is not one of them!
It contains information you will find valuable. Messages from users you choose to follow will show up on your Homepage for you to read; it’s like being delivered a newspaper whose headlines you’ll always find interesting. You can discover news as it’s happening; learn more about topics that are important to you; and get the inside scoop in real time.
When I talk about Twitter to friends and family, they seem the get confused, and the questions follow: “What is Twitter?” they will ask. And when I explain the basics of how Twitter operates, they ask, “Why would anyone use Twitter?”
While Twitter may have started as a micro-blogging service, it has grown into much more than simply a tool to type in quick status updates. I often describe it as a cross between blogging and instant messaging, though even that doesn’t do it justice. It is the real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting.
How to start using Twitter? If you remember one thing after perusing this week’s Tech Talk, it should be this: Reading Tweets and discovering new information whenever you check in on your Twitter timeline is where you’ll find the most value on Twitter. What I am trying to imply is: Get your Tweets going! Some people find it useful to contribute their own Tweets, but the real magic of Twitter lies in absorbing real-time information that matters to you.
It’s best to begin your journey by finding and following other interesting Twitter accounts. Look for businesses you love, public service accounts, people you know, celebrities, or news sources you read. Messages from others you follow will show up in a readable stream on your Twitter Homepage. Once you’ve followed a few people, you’ll have a new page of information to read each time you log in.
One of the best things about Twitter is that it’s portable. Connect your account to your mobile phone or download a Twitter application to begin reading Tweets on-the-go. Now you can get updates about traffic problems in the middle of your commute; find out what the players are saying while you’re at the game; or catch up on the buzz about an event you’re about to attend.
One good advice: Using Twitter via SMS allows you to pick-and-choose which updates you want from those you follow, so you can get mobile updates from the accounts that matter most to your life on-the-go. By linking your Twitter account to your mobile phone number, you can receive and write Tweets via text message. Experience Twitter on your mobile device by using free Twitter apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry and Windows 7. To get the latest apps, go to twitter.com/download on your mobile device.
A good question to ask yourself before you tweet anything is: Would I say this out loud in a room full of strangers? Never share sensitive or confidential information, including your email address.
Specifically, don’t announce vacations or details about your schedule. Only add location to your Tweets if you are comfortable with the world being able to find you. If you want to tweet about a place you’re visiting, the best time to do this is as you are leaving. Otherwise, you may be informing a thief of exactly when you’ll be away from your home.
Tweets about layoffs, drunken behaviour, and how someone looks in a certain dress may be fun at the moment, but how would you feel about them being public when you’re applying for your dream job?
Be careful when using Twitter, or any social network while you’re mad or intoxicated. Before you tweet anything in anger, take a deep breath. Remember that while Twitter may feel at times like it’s your own private cocktail party, it isn’t.
