How important is Twitter?

[Chocchops72]

Is it likely to go tits up and disappear? And if it does, does it matter?

i go on Twitter quite a lot, mostly to follow a few accounts linked to subjects I’m interested in (politics, news, climate change, science, old buildings, travel). I rarely post. ATM there is a lot of hand wringing and concern that ‘something should be done’ to preserve what Twitter provides - but I’m not sure what that is and how important it is?

Is Twitter important to you?

Thanks @Runningintolife

Imagine paying all that money for a collapsing sewer 😱

Like MN?

Pretty much how I use it.

It's my go to site. It's negative, for me, is that I get frustrated with people in real life who seem to have only found out about something that was discussed on there days before.

I'll have to create a Mastodon account as a hedge but I'll be really pissed off if Twitter goes.

I only use academic Twitter. I guess it's a bit like Mumsnet, for those that use it right now it would feel like a loss, but most people parent without Mumsnet, and most academics are not on Twitter, regularly at least. I do like the ability to mix in both academic stuff with random other stuff, which isn't so possible elsewhere. I got a paid job through seeing the ad on Twitter so have a lot to thank it for personally, I'm not leaving yet anyway, I won't cry if it goes, but I'm not sure I have the time and energy to add all those 100's of people in my field on another platform right now.

Not remotely important. Literally billions of people around the world exist perfectly happily without going near it.

They will love it because they can't be held accountable.

I still don’t understand how Twitter works.
I can’t work out how to see comments etc. It’s too complicated and I am heavy FB, Insta, Tiktok user, however Twitter is not for me.

Also my DH loves Twitter and it’s heavy user with 3k followers mostly football fans etc, however when he posts Tweet no one likes it but another Twitter user literally steals DHs tweets and get hundreds of likes. So how that works?

I love Twitter. It's what you make it. I follow people who have similar interests - gardening, writing, art etc.
Yes there are horrible toxic people on there, there are plenty of those on MN. You don't have to engage with them.
I can't stand the self absorption/ vanity of insta and I rarely use FB.
I have made a Mastodon account and while it's a bit creaky I'm loving it.

Honestly, I would struggle if if disappeared, it's one of my main sources of information (I do know not to believe everything I read!) I'd really miss it.

I don't think it will go though, you don't spend £44bn though to have something disappear a few weeks later.

Thank you, I'm on just a mobile and it was too long to copy and paste for @BIWI

I would be quite upset when it goes bust. I follow so many authors, publishers and book bloggers, and have quite a decent amount of followers myself. I don't interact with them on the other platforms (some on Insta, but not to such an extent). I don't think there is a good substitute/equivalent to Twitter.
I also often look at the hashtags to see what's happening.

I can only speak for me but slow start was how it happened. I joined in 2017 and thought this is never going to work but I persisted.
I followed a few niche interest people, news outlets, and politically those I agreed with. I retweeted a lot and added # to words/topics of interest that were trending. Slowly but surely people followed me and I followed them back and vice versa.
It took years for me but I'm about 2'500 I follow and who follow me but I'm not there for the numbers, it just happened!

I ve had various famous people retweet me or answer me and it makes me laugh especially the ones I don't agree with who are rude!

Hope that helos@BadlydoneHelen

I have never used Twitter and never will. If I want to find out what's going on in the world, I use the BBC, Guardian, etc.

Thank you @Roussette
Maybe I just need to dive in and give it a go. I shall start with Monty Don and Mark Kermode as I like films and gardening and see what happens

Dont' just read your feed, look at the full threads (click on the time stamp) to see discussion that follow (from say Kermode or Monty Don).

The funny & informative stuff is very often in the comments.

I hate twitter. It's basically an echo chamber and people are so black and white in terms of opinions. There is no nuanced debate or grey areas just slogans and abuse. It's a cesspool.

I agree with reading the comments. Respond to any if you want to find out more and follow anyone if you look at their timeline and it seems interesting, with intelligent/witty/nuanced whatever comments. Ask questions of experts in their fields - many will answer you. Anyone rude or an idiot, just block or mute.

I think it's the same as all the other Social media outlets.
Mostly full of fake people and lies.

I believe the quicker we get rid of it and those similar, the better.

I second this. Sòme famous people don't even run their own Twitter accounts.
It's the little people who are witty and fun and informative.

There is no nuanced debate or grey areas just slogans and abuse. It's a cesspool.
It's a big pool. There are whole areas occupied by nice people. It's not all about debate either, sometimes it's just about plants or sheep.

I am amazed people don't read the comments. It's like coming on mn and reading the opening post and nothing else. What's the point of that?

You including MN in "all the other Social media outlets mostly full of fake people and lies" & "sooner we get rid of it the better" ?

If not, why not?

It's no longer important or relevant as it's going down the plug hole.

Besides, anyone who gives that orange buffoon a SM outlet is well and truly f*cked in the head! 😡

I'd be happy to see the back of it. Meaningless drivel.