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Twitter Me This
Posted December 31, 2008

What are you doing?  This is the question that is on most of your friends and family’s minds.  If you’re familiar with Twitter, one of the fastest growing websites, those closest to you probably already know the answer. 

The Twitter site is free to the public and set up so that its members, “Twitterers”, can submit short messages detailing what they are doing.  The short entries, called “Tweets” are to be seen by a network chosen by the member and can only be up to 140 words in length.  The length of the messages make it possible to send multiple “Tweets” a day between you and your network.  Messages become more conversational this way and don’t take up too much time like an email or phone call might. 

Twitter is used by anyone who can use a computer or cell phone and has soon become a fixture in many peoples’ lives.  People use it for anything from keeping in close touch with coworkers, friends, family etc. to checking out the news in real time.  CNN was one of the first news sources to utilize Twitter and has since grown an enormous following.  President Elect Obama also used Twitter to keep the public abreast of what was happening during his campaign.

One Twitter user summed up the reason many people use the service in a New York Times article.  Tony Stubblebine said, “At some point I got so busy and self-absorbed that I stopped reading or writing personal emails.  I’d see my sister about once a month and ask, ‘What’s up?’ only to find out, ‘Not much.’  Now I have a much more detailed picture of her life.”

To check out what SheSpeaks is doing on Twitter you can visit: https://explore.twitter.com/SheSpeaksInc
 

What do you think of Twitter?

Is Twitter something you might consider using to stay in contact with family and friends?

40 Comments
Berningerj says: on Dec 31, 2008
I don't have a Twitter account, but I do use Facebook. I'm college age and it's a great way to keep up with people I went to high school with and my collegues and classmates.
jemappel says: on Dec 31, 2008
I've tried to use twitter, but I don't understand it yet. the "tweets" are too short for me to really know what people are saying. I'm a little slow to adopt these things, though...I'll probably figure it out one of these days.
Meritt says: on Jan 01, 2009
I've had a Twitter account for a long time now. I love it! Quick and easy you can always post a url if you want people to read more details.
pgarcia74 says: on Jan 02, 2009
Will have to research this a bit more. I don't use myspace or facebook but maybe this might be something worth looking into.
vhsurvey says: on Jan 03, 2009
Now that facebook has a "what are you doing" feature, I don't see as much need for twitter...
lynnkendo says: on Jan 03, 2009
Interesting, I will have to check it out more before I join the site. Went there and agree the entries are mighty short. I have been invited to join "My Face" by a family member but just have not gotten around to it as yet. Just got invited yesterday-lol.....
ayesha16 says: on Jan 05, 2009
I think it is like facebook
wespeak2 says: on Jan 06, 2009
Our organization is looking at the marketing possibilities of twittering. However, we don't know much about it yet. I have not used it but may look into it. Not sure if I'd have the time to know that much about others in the course of my day.
meowmix says: on Jan 08, 2009
It is totally out of my realm of comprehension. I don't know how to work it. No one ever replies to me so i must be doing something wrong.
swimmonkey2 says: on Jan 08, 2009
I like facebook better!
redfraggle says: on Jan 08, 2009
I already use Twitter. Yes, it's great for those people that want a no nonsense kind of microblogging. I think that Facebook is better for the bigger picture of keeping in touch with friends and family. The friend feed on Facebook is basically a page of tweets anyway!
rockhound24 says: on Jan 09, 2009
I would rather use Facebook so I can see pictures too.
TLK72063 says: on Jan 09, 2009
Never Heard of this but I am Interested in it . Is this like FAcebook or Myspace? Is this an application for your cell phone? I checked into it but I don't get this at all.
3boysandagirl says: on Jan 09, 2009
i love twitter. i use it for business and find the short microblogging style very useful and concise.
LisaAC says: on Jan 10, 2009
I've never heard of Twitter until now. I'll look into it, but sounds like the messages are far too short.
LisaAC says: on Jan 10, 2009
Ok, just signed up for Twitter and so far not impressed. None of my friends are on Twitter and I'm sure they wouldn't be interested in it as most use Yahoo Messenger instead. It doesn't give you enough room to write. Great for very very short messages, but not so great if you've a lot to say.
littlemamalisa says: on Jan 13, 2009
twitters make the back of my hair stand, this is a little too much, never seen it or used it, but heard of it very much...i'll stick to myspace for personal and facebook for school.
juliecole says: on Jan 16, 2009
I have made some great business contacts using twitter
lisalisa says: on Jan 19, 2009
Love Twitter!! Its fun to see what your friends and co workers are up to. I like to put my random thoughts out there and find out what is going on. I am on Facebook as well. Both are quite addictive if you have any sort of curiosity at all.
CaseyDeuce says: on Jan 22, 2009
I really tried to figure twitter out, and I was super interested in it... but I cant figure it out in the least.
savedbygracejmw says: on Jan 23, 2009
it seems to short. I'm happy to stick with Facebook, which let's me chat, see pictures, and also write the short messages that are like twitter.
bunnytrails says: on Jan 25, 2009
I have fun with Twitter. I enjoy the back & forth chit-chat with friends throughout the day. Also has been very useful staying up to the minutes in a number of circumstances. I just have to be careful to not spend TOO much time there (like the rest of cyberspace!).
laura264 says: on Jan 28, 2009
Hi everyone. I tried to link to the twitter site and a message came up that the certificate had expired. I guess I'll try again later once I log out of here. I have to admit, I'm new to all of this blogging stuff. Most of it just confuses the heck out of me. I miss the good ol days when you just logged onto a forum and bam, you could post messages. I'll work it out though.
cheshiresmile says: on Jan 28, 2009
I love using twitter. It's a great, quick way to blog and stay updated on friends. It's not a social networking site the way facebook is. It's a mini-blog.
k_to_the_t says: on Jan 30, 2009
I adore twitter! Just like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc, it has its own use and niche. It did take me a bit to get really active, but once I got into it, it's been a phenomenal tool both professionally and personally. They key is not to take the "What are you doing?" too literally. Use it to recommend something, share a one-liner, RT (re-tweet) something someone else posted that you like, etc. The more you interact with other Twitterers and find people you enjoy following, the more you'll enjoy the experience.
salome says: on Feb 03, 2009
I don't use Twitter much, mostly because I don't like the idea of other people being able to track what I do all the timew. I also don't find other people's actions interesting either, but that might be beacuse I'm a college student and live with my friends.
esbarin says: on Feb 03, 2009
I like facebook a little better!
laguna_dreamz says: on Feb 05, 2009
I've never used Twitter. But I do Myspace and Facebook, both of which I am COMPLETLY obsessed with. I dont know what in the world I would ever do without those sites!!!!
jmarie0315 says: on Feb 06, 2009
I have an account, but rarely use it. I find that few of my friends have joined at this time, so I don't have much to read other than announcements about sales at drugstore.com.
livebyoptimism says: on Feb 08, 2009
I signed up for Twitter... and haven't a clue how to use it! I asked friends & they agree with me. I only have one other friend that is also on Twitter. I don't like that random strangers can "follow" me. Just kind of creepy knowing random people I don't know can know what I'm doing. If I could figure it out, how to link it to my cell phone so I get updates, & get other people to join... I might just get sucked in to the madness. I do love Myspace & Facebook, so you never know.
805Therapy says: on Feb 13, 2009
I use twitter daily (nearly) - mental health topics and personal updates
elliej says: on Feb 24, 2009
I started a Twitter account but not really sure how it works just yet. I also have Mypace and Facebook. I started a MYSpace account a couple years ago, hardly go there at all anymore. I love Facebook, it seems more suited for an older crowd. Like I said I also just started Twitter about a week or so ago but it's a bit confusing. After reading the posts I don't feel so bad as it seems I'm not the only one that doesn't understand it.
redoakl5 says: on Feb 27, 2009
Twitter will soon peter out!
toriphilly says: on Mar 08, 2009
I think twitter is fun!!! we should all add each other lol.
Barbiels says: on Mar 12, 2009
I'm beginning to figure out facebook but twitter is very confusing to me still
meowmix says: on Apr 09, 2009
cant figure out the *** thing.
BABYGIRL350 says: on May 12, 2009
yes i have a twitter account and i don't understand the whole thing it kind of dumb to me ,if someone can explain it to me then i will check it back out.
SusieH135 says: on May 29, 2009
I love twitter. It's the fastest, easiest way to catch up with family, friends, and news (NPR.org, the CDC, and many news media outlets 'tweet' often). Twitter is also used by some local governments and police stations to broadcast emergency notifications. Once you sign up, plan to spend a good deal of time just looking around for interesting people/organizations to follow.
myangel82 says: on May 31, 2009
I am a mom who got a bill passed in the state of Ohio to allow emergency contact with our drivers license. When you go to the Doctors, work place and kids in school you always have to put an emergency contact. My son was killed in an auto accident and Hospital chaplain ended up telling me over the phone that David was dead without knowing who I was, didnt ask if anyone was home with me or if I was driving. No one deserves to be told this way. I talked with the Sgt. that was on David's case and this is how I came up with it. So if you live in Ohio you can sign up on line and you DO NOT have to wait until your license are renewed. This way law enforcement can find family members much quicker. www.money-burge.com
myangel82 says: on May 31, 2009
I am a mom who got a bill passed in the state of Ohio to allow emergency contact with our drivers license. When you go to the Doctors, work place and kids in school you always have to put an emergency contact. My son was killed in an auto accident and Hospital chaplain ended up telling me over the phone that David was dead without knowing who I was, didnt ask if anyone was home with me or if I was driving. No one deserves to be told this way. I talked with the Sgt. that was on David's case and this is how I came up with it. So if you live in Ohio you can sign up on line and you DO NOT have to wait until your license are renewed. This way law enforcement can find family members much quicker. www.money-burge.com
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