Beginning on Twitter

This course has meant I have not only began a blog but have also delved in to the world of twitter. I have never really been interested in twitter as someone who never wanted to inform people that I had muesli for breakfast. My handle is (@AnnieSpann)

That doesn't mean, however, that I haven't looked at people or organisations twitters. It is a way for people to directly communicate with fans or users. Although it doesn't always end well, it seems every day there are feuds between celebrities or between fans and celebrities! I think only using it like this had meant my relationship with twitter has been been very superficial, and I haven't bothered to really see how it could actually help me communicate with people and keep in touch with current events. The fact the the selfie taken by Eleen Degenerers (@TheEllenShow) at the Oscars crashed the site shows that it must be something I'm missing out on! 

I've tweeted a grand total of once. I think it will take a bit of time to get used to sharing my thoughts with other people- it something I don't do on Facebook either. I have managed to follow many people though, and it is useful to have such a direct link with people and information. 

The fact that it can be used to inform people of political issues and developments so instantaneously is I think one of twitters best features and it is probably one of the best examples of how widely Web 2.0 has permeated our society. The #thailandprotest and #ukraineprotest hashtags are not only a way for people within Ukraine and Thailand to know what is happening but also family and friends across the world and news agencies. 

The think I am discovering is that twitter is a way for people who other wise would not be involved in information dissemination and management can be through twitter. As Lee Le Fever says in his "Twitter in Plain English" it allows people to know what is happening in people's lives between blog posts. Coming from a history background, especially a social history background, the fact that in the future (thanks Library of Congress!) historians can know what everyday people are doing day to day and the general populations thoughts on major issues, is really amazing.

Now I just have to learn how to link my blog post to my twitter....