Twitter is a social media platform launched in 2006 that allows users to post short messages called tweets that are limited to 140 characters. It grew to be one of the top 10 most visited websites and allows users to publicly share information quickly, while also allowing for private messaging between users. The document outlines various Twitter terminology and conventions for composing and sharing tweets, as well as how to engage with other users through features like retweets, mentions, hashtags, and following accounts.

1. twitter 101
“short bursts of inconsequential
information”

2. what is it?
• Social media “micro-blogging” platform
• Launched July 2006
• One of the ten most visited websites

3. 140 characters
• why?
• mobile messaging
– worldwide standard of SMS/text messages is 160
characters

4. why use it?
• public
• large reach
• fast

5. composing a tweet
•
•
•
•
•
brevity and clarity-you need BOTH
timing is key
don’t “plagiarize”
Google/Snopes “facts” before posting
Watch. Your. Language.

6. The lingo
• @-links to someone’s profile/mention. Like
“tagging.”
• Avatar-profile picture
• Direct Message/DM-private tweets, but be
careful
• Favorite-indicate you like something,
acknowledge receipt of it.
• Follow/Following/Followers

7. • #FF- “Follow Friday”
• #-hashtag. Used to mark words/keywords. NO
SPACES.
• Lists
• MT-Modified Tweet. Like a retweet, but use if
you change the tweet in any way.
• OH-Overheard
• Promoted Tweets-twitter’s version of ads. We
will get to this!
• Reply-responding to someone’s tweet

8. Retweet
• RT
• Noun and verb!
• Check the source before retweeting

9. • Timeline-your personal collection of tweets,
composed of everyone you follow.
• Timestamp-time indicating when a tweet was
sent
• Trend/trending-what’s popular on twitter right
now. Can set locally, regionally, nationally.
• URL-Uniform Resource Locator

10. Let’s tweet together!
• Open twitter and log in