To ask for info on Twitter (technophobe alert)?

[Oldisthenewblack]

To ask how Twitter works? I just joined as I wanted to see what it was all about, but now I'm still confused. What do people tweet about? Why? Twitter gave me three suggestions of who to follow, one of which was Ant&Dec. No. I don't know what I'm on Twitter for, but it's not to trail about after those two.

How can Twitter enhance my life?

Don't judge me, I don't get out much and t'internet is my friend.

I'll never join Facebook though

[Trills]

People post words or pictures or links.

You can follow them, so the stuff they post shows up in your feed.

There's no need for them to accept you, and no particular expectation that they will follow you back.

How it can enhance your life is this: you follow people who post stuff you are interested in. Then whenever you like, you can look and find a whole bunch of "interesting stuff to look at".

My feed is mainly full of people posting things about feminism and/or cooking. Your can be full of whatever you like.

[Oldisthenewblack]

Thank you, Trills, just clicked 'follow' on my first person/thing. Does this mean this person has to decided whether to accept/decline me?

I really should research these things before jumping in.

[Trills]

They don't have to accept or decline you at all - you are now following them.

Lots of journalists are on Twitter - if there's someone who you like to read in the paper or in a magazine try searching for them.

[Oldisthenewblack]

Oh, fab. Thought I may have to experience rejection again. I will have a poke about at it later .

[HamaTime]

They don't have to accept you, once you press follow then you are following them. What they post will show up in your timeline unless they @someonesname at the beginning of their tweet, in which case it only shows up for @someonesname and anyone who follows both of them

What are you interested in? I don't follow famous people (much) but I follow a few newspapers, local cinemas/theatre, feminist women, a few funny accounts. I follow a lovely retired woman who follows loads of people and retweets a lot of stuff so following her is like following 100 people, but filtered.

[BitOutOfPractice]

If you're into football you might want to follow a load of footballers, or sports journalists etc.

If you like cooking you might follow some food writers, chefs, Nigella Lawson etc

That way, your news feed only has stuff you might be interested in.

Comedians, politicians, writers etc might make interesting people to follow.

I only use twitter for work so my feed is full of stuff relating to my industry.

Use the "trending" section (on the left hand side on a desk top) to see what people are talking about all over the world. If you search for a hash tag then it will show you the tweets of all the people who have used that hashtag. Eg when the Eurovision song contest is on, search for #Eurovision and all the people who are tweeting about it will come up

Does that make sense?

[FreshHorizons]

I was on there for 4 years before I understood it! It is now great fun. You just follow whoever you like, I don't follow anyone famous because there are so many interesting ordinary people. If someone follows you you don't have to follow them. Famous people just want lots of followers and are not interested in you. Lots of people are on there to publicise their books, pictures etc
I get lots of local information, breaking news, lots of wonderful nature pictures. You can have discussions, I follow my interests of education, books, walking, history.

[FreshHorizons]

You can just unfollow people- there is nothing personal in it.

[FreshHorizons]

It has been great for pictures and videos of the flooding.

[Boogers]

I'm a Twitter novice but find it handy for things like following football matches (you just follow the club and it automatically updates scores, goal attempts, cards, corners etc in your feed) or for things like breaking news on the BBC feed. You'll find some interesting people to follow, some famous, some not famous, but it's interesting to see what's posted and retweeted. Al Murray the 318 and Lord Sugar are good for a laugh as they often get into spats with various followers of their feeds. Al Murray always wins!

[Moonriver1]

I follow celebrities, teams, clubs. I don't stuff tweet myself and I don't have Twitter conversations with friends.

[Moonriver1]

Oh yes BBC news Boogers, me too.

[FreshHorizons]

Good for watching TV, e.g last night people were discussing Sherlock. I always chat about The Archers. You can find other people by using the hash tag e.g. #DowntonAbbey.

[FreshHorizons]

I don't know anyone that I follow personally, but I have met a few afterwards but only in an incidental way.

[Oldisthenewblack]

FreshHorizons - that sounds like me, being there for years before I get the hang of it! I get so confused my a screen full of stuff - my brain gets overwhelmed...

BitOut - yes, that makes sense. I appreciate all the tips!

[Oldisthenewblack]

'by' a screen full of stuff.....not 'my'. See, I can't even focus on typing. Twitter will be the death of me.

[Thunderblunder]

I'm thinking of going on Twitter purely to follow people rather than tweeting myself iyswim.
Do 'normal' people use their real names as their Twitter handles or do they use nicknames?

[Oldisthenewblack]

I used a false name. No way I'm giving out my real name on there. I don't even want anyone to know I'm on it...I'm very cautious about online stuff.

[SwedishEdith]

Some people do use their real names. Up to you.

I think it's great for breaking news. Just follow some good news sites and journalists.

I feel slightly unnerved if someone follows me = under pressure to start being interesting or funny.

[HamaTime]

Some people use real names, some make them up. I use a nickname that I am known by on another forum. I wouldn't use my real name, partly because I wouldn't want people I know to search for me or some randoms from work (public facing - I wear a name badge). I don't post anything massively controversial, but I like the anonymity of it. I hardly use FB because I am quite private.

[HamaTime]

It's good for traffic/transport info too

[soyvanillalatte]

I use mine professionally. What line of work are you in OP? You could use it for that as well.

[louisaglasson]

Thank you for this thread . And for the really clear explanations. I never understood it but have joined recently as I had a bit of time on my hands. I want to know more and join in more with the community that are people with the same illness as me. I started a personal blog and someone suggested Twitter so my page there is that, rather than me personally but I was starting to follow people I know - then seeing all the same stuff I was seeing from them on Facebook.

But I get it now! I'm sticking to my subject and the aim of my blog, rather than people that know me and just make connections.

[Oldisthenewblack]

louisaglasson - you've just given me an idea, though why I didn't think about it sooner I don't know. I too have an illness, so I think I may search for that on Twitter. Oooh, it's all happening!

[Boogers]

If you sign up and follow Richard Osman you can vote in the world cup of chocolate! Final voting from 5 - 8 tonight!