What Is Twitter?
This method of communicating is one of several social-network methods that can help you keep in touch with friends, family members and others. Designed for brief communication, “tweets” are limited to 140 characters. It’s both an instant messaging method and a way to text while on the move, using the Internet.
Twitter has only been in existence for a couple of years but it is already used by thousands of people. As a basic platform for communicating, the method has some similarities to blogging. However, a blog is not limited as Twitter’s “tweets” are. If you want to comment on something, let others know what you are doing on a personal level or just want to start a conversation, you simply have to put your thoughts on Twitter, in a brief form.
This new method of conversing and gossiping, commenting and disagreeing, often uses existing messaging programs. An individual might “tweet” with a cell phone or a computer. As is the case with most social networks, each person must have an account with Twitter. In a matter of minutes, providing a few bits of information, anyone can be letting people know how they are doing and what they are doing.
Some users refer to the individual messages as updates, since the plan is to let friends and family know what we are up to at the moment. Considered by some to be unique among communication tools, Twitter doesn’t necessarily do anything brand new. It just does it differently.
Twitter has become so popular in a short time that users are already being urged to limit their updates. Constant messages of a few characters can annoy some people, as unwanted email messages do in that communication method. Company representatives warn those who abuse the system that they may be removed from the lists of others.
Groups may be a good idea, so that there are some limits. Twitter is already being spoiled for some by spam from Internet marketers.
When someone you are following puts a “tweet” out there, you will see that the message is on your home page. The same goes for the messages you send out. Others who are following you will see that you have “tweeted” and can choose to find out what you have to say.
Twitter has been compared to other social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace. But the limited service doesn’t allow such space-eating items as photos and lengthy articles. Twitter is meant to be used as a way of holding a very short conversation or just filling someone in on what is happening “live.”
Those who may still be confused about what Twitter is and what it does, consider this: It’s sort of like leaving a few words on the desk or table, on a sticky note. If the person for whom the message is intended looks at that spot on a regular basis, this is a great way to “send” messages. Twitter does this electronically, using various methods. The simplest way to use the platform is by simply using the Twitter Web site. You can expand from there.
Category: Computers, Technology