Twitter - use real name or not?

[CointreauVersial]

I've just signed up for a Twitter account and blithely set it up with my own name as the username. So far, I have one follower - my SIL - who clearly knows who I am.

But now I've had a panic - should I be using my own name? I want to use it for personal reasons, not business, and I would quite like to follow some of my MN chums. But then it will be pretty easy for someone who knows me to link back to MN, which I would rather keep anonymous. I certainly don't want SIL reading what I post here........AAAHH!

Basically, is there any merit in remaining "anonymous" on Twitter, or is it rather pointless if no-one knows who the hell you are.

Confused, or what?!

Depends whether you're a follower or followee? I do not use my real name - got similarly twitchy about RL/all sorts of other things crossover

Well, I don't know yet. Have barely dipped my toe.

Have only just dipped my toe too. I have set up an alias though. I set up my Twitter account to have a rant at poor customer service of a couple of firms and I would not want firms I am applying for jobs too to find me on Twitter and think I am just a ranting bitch even though I am.

I dont

I am very coy about the whole thing for some reason

I'm @Cybilliberty if youre passing

Well, quite. Keep virtual and real separate I think.I don't do mn on twitter though (in fact,hardly look at all) or on fb

I don't. My Twitter account is a weird link between various forums, all of which are comfortably anon (there are a few people who know me in RL, but we're talking maybe 4 or 5 out of 400+) Both my names on Twitter are online personas - one's my old MN name, the other is my LJ name (and it's odd enough that they're meeting tbh )

Yikes.

Better swiftly change my Twitter name (and hope SIL doesn't notice).

Thanks for the perspective.

dont follow cyb shes a slag

It's true

I am

When I started on Twitter a couple of years ago I used my Mumsnet name and enjoyed myself just following celebs and tweeting banalities.

However some people in my industry tracked me down and I realised that I needed to get my act together so changed it to my own name. I now have 1300+ followers and, whilst I still tweet for myself (rather than my company) I am much more careful what I say.

I now follow people in my industry plus lots of media sources so I can stay on top of subjects of interest to me. I make an effort to follow people and try to follow at least 50% of the number of my followers.

Right, name changed to subtle combo of MN name and RL name. @vicointreau.

Cyb, bad news, I am already following you. I started with BIWI (who I've met), and found all sorts of people I recognised.

Don't expect a rivetting stream of fascinating tweets from me, though.

I may change mine - having your real name on twitter means that the Daily Fail can print your name in their paper without them asking you first.

Have you tweeted yet? Go on, take the plunge, tell us what you are up to this afternoon.

Yay! Did it. Took the plunge and tweeted something. Thanks for the kick up the arse, nannynick.

Only two people will read it, but hey, it's a start.

I did try to follow you but Twitter wouldn't admit you existed under that name. The search facility can be temperamental at times.

Anyone could read your first tweet... as it was just a normal tweet to the world.

You may find this Twitter Guide useful for learning about the different types of tweet.

But surely only people following me would actually see it? Thought I did a reply.

Doing tweets which anyone could see (such as finding it via a keyword search) is a good way of getting more followers. Tweet about local events to get local followers.

Simply just type, don't put any special characters at the beginning.

To reply to a person use the @ symbol in front of their name. They will see that tweet, as will your followers, and their followers.

Using a twitter client (like tweetdeck) can make things clearer, as that has columns for all tweets, mentions, direct messages.

I tweet under my real name and it's blatently obvious who I am as I have a pic as well, I have a blog hence the twitter account which is quite personal, to be honest trying to keep anonymous just seemed like too much hard work. I am just really really careful about what I post on MN in case anyone from my real life follows me through. I am @beautifulsouth7 by the way.