Twitter is becoming extremely popular – but what is it and what’s all the fuss about?
What is Twitter? www.twitter.com
Twitter is a free micro blogging service that runs on your computer, your phone or palm device. It allows users to share information, links etc with other Twitter users; via a 140 character text limit. This makes messages (called tweets) short and to the point – ideal for ‘micro-blogging’.
I am a regular Twitter user and use it mainly as a way to keep in touch with friends, contacts and even a few of the people I blog about. I have also met stacks of great new people via Twitter - it’s just such a great little service. My most recent follower on Twitter is none other than Garnett Lee from the superb gaming site 1UP.com.
Want to know more?
For some general information on what Twitter is and what it does, take a look at this review from The Soft Tech Reviews Blog – Click here!
If you would like to know how to use Twitter to get traffic to your website or blog - Read Gregor’s excellent blog post – Click here!
- – UPDATE – -
If you are already a Twitter member, my user name is @thetechnewsblog you can find me here – come and say hello! Also – read this “What’s Patrick Norton’s Twitter name?”
I use Twitter, but I don’t find it really that useful. I don’t find myself needing to update my status every second or every hour. Rather than looking at a screen to see how my friends are doing, I’d rather be talking or doing something fun with them.
Hello Sammy,
Twitter is like any other internet service, in that what you get from it depands on how you use it.
You mention that you woud rather talk with a friend than ‘Twitter’ them. That’s not a decision you ever have to make – It’s not Twitter a friend OR a phone call / chat; you can use both (I do.)
For example, I tweeted on Saturday that I was in London relaxing for a couple of days. Within 20 minutes, a friend of mine had read the tweet and called me. He had seen that I was in town and so we arranged to meet up that evening.
Thanks for the comment Sammy.
What does this do that the “status” section on Facebook doesn’t? Why would I update both? Other than people who feel the need to narrate their life, what is the benefit?
Pointless fad.
@digital_elysium
For people like me, who do not use facebook, Twitter is extremely useful.
Twitter isn’t just about telling people what you had for lunch. It can be an extremely powerful communications tool. People like CNET, The BBC, Channel 4 News and others use it to communicate with their viewers.
I also find it VERY useful as a way to get a snapshot of public opinion and also I have had some tech-related questions answered on Twitter too.
I understand what you say, as the first time I saw Twitter I just couldn’t see ANY benefit to it. Now though, it’s really useful for me.
I agree that it may be a fad though – will be interesting to see if Im still using it in 12-months.
Thanks digital_elysium
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the link! Now get back to winding up the BBC!
Cheers,
Gregor
@Gregor
Winding up the BBC? Me?
Nahhh. ;)
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