Idiots guide to Twitter

[AnonymousBird]

I registered with Twitter years ago, so have a profile, but have never used it. It seems that I "follow" a few people, e.g.. our school, mumsnet (of course!) and one or two other things. I must have selected these when I first registered. But I never check the tweets as it all just sends up so much garbage that I can't pick out what I actually might be interested in and I am instantly bored.

Anyway, I now need to be able to use it for the next week to follow something (my daughter on an away trip) and this is the only way I will get updates of her trip. SO, how do I tailor Twitter to only show me what I really want to see? Why would I get loads of unsolicited tweets today, for example,regarding the election and general advertising I have absolutely no interest in and have definitely not liked or followed. Does everyone get this crud on their twitter feeds? There are sheets and sheets of it, and only the odd tweet that I might actually want to read.

Do you literally have to scroll through it all to sift out what you want?

Help gratefully received! I am a total novice.... TIA.

An MNer has written a brilliant user guide to Twitter, let me look it up and link it for you, hang on...

Here you go

I very seldom use Twitter now, but I have TWO accounts. Could you not set up a second account specific\ally for the purpose you want?

Twitter has got much more 'messy' over the years, which is why I can't be bothered with it now.

And I set up the second one using my 'spare' email address.

Thanks BoF, I wil take a look. I should know anyway a bit more about it so

And Ferguson - so you only follow one thing on the other account??? Do you not still get all the crap that you haven't signed up for (most of my first Twitter feed is stuff I haven't followed, just blurb and adverts). Good idea though, will definitely give it a go with my spare email too. Thanks.

I originally joined Twitter to 'follow' Lily Allen. Gradually other Lily fans came on, then I added more music-type things.

The second one I use for 'science', Space, BBC 'Click' tech programme, etc, and that doesn't pick up much 'garbage'.

Can't daughter email information to you? Or might they be communicating via the school web site?

Hope she has a good holiday!

(In the 'old days' parents might get a postcard, if they were lucky!)

They can't email, as they have no contact with home for the four days other than via the staff (who are brilliant at posting photos and the like and she does get to send a post card as well!). All devices are handed in as they get off the coach.

I've figured out that you can kind of block delete Twitter's "suggestions" so am doing that, and have had fewer crap posts today. Using the App is way better than the website as well is my other discovery, much easier to keep tabs on the posts I've looked at and what is new so feel like I've made a breakthrough! I feel very modern (though i am aware that Twitter is rather passé for the younger folk..... )

Set up a list with just that one account on it then just read the timeline for the list? I have a list of the 5 or so people I follow whose tweets I don't want to miss even when am madly busy so when things kick off I just read that list not everything.

You can get an alert on your phone every time your daughter's school tweets (follow the twitter feed and then click on the cog and 'turn on mobile notifications'). Then all you have to do is click on the feed to read the tweets.