13 votes

Good use for Twitter?

I hear a lot about how Twitter is a bad concept, because the character limit means things can be oversimplified, taken out of context, and posted without a source. I've never used it myself, but recently I've been wondering if it can be useful to me. For example, some bloggers I follow might post some insights on Twitter that they don't anywhere else, and help me discover other interesting blogs.

Have you found a good use for Twitter besides as a social network or news aggregator?

16 comments

  1. cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    It's pretty good when checking for service outages since companies usually tweet when they plan on doing maintenance, ETAs on when they will be finished and it's also often the first place they...

    Have you found a good use for Twitter besides as a social network or news aggregator?

    It's pretty good when checking for service outages since companies usually tweet when they plan on doing maintenance, ETAs on when they will be finished and it's also often the first place they post when there is unexpected downtime... but other than that and the rare bit of "breaking news" type stuff (the veracity and value of which is often highly questionable) I rarely ever use or check it. I honestly just don't really "get" twitter or the point in following people so I get spammed with notifications every time they mindlessly tweet something out into the world.

    5 votes
  2. [5]
    DonQuixote
    Link
    Twitter is just different. It's got good points and bad, as you say. I use it as an alternative to other media and it keeps me off of Facebook, a site which I can't justify at all.

    Twitter is just different. It's got good points and bad, as you say. I use it as an alternative to other media and it keeps me off of Facebook, a site which I can't justify at all.

    4 votes
    1. [4]
      Cosmos
      Link Parent
      What does twitter do differently than facebook that allows you to justify using it?

      What does twitter do differently than facebook that allows you to justify using it?

      1 vote
      1. DonQuixote
        Link Parent
        I don't know these days, maybe nothing. But twitter used to be one of the quickest ways to find out what was going on in the world. It also lent itself to group watching tv shows. Whereas Facebook...

        I don't know these days, maybe nothing. But twitter used to be one of the quickest ways to find out what was going on in the world. It also lent itself to group watching tv shows. Whereas Facebook when I put it away was all about self promotion and one upping others' lives. Either in quantity or quality. Ugh.

        3 votes
      2. Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        Even as a non-user of Twitter, I can answer that: it allows strangers to see what you post. The primary use case for Facebook is to share content with people you know. The primary use case for...

        Even as a non-user of Twitter, I can answer that: it allows strangers to see what you post. The primary use case for Facebook is to share content with people you know. The primary use case for Twitter is to share content with people you don't know.

        2 votes
      3. JamesTeaKirk
        Link Parent
        I can browse Twitter without logging in. That's basically impossible with Facebook. That's the only reason I still sometimes browse through tweets.

        I can browse Twitter without logging in. That's basically impossible with Facebook. That's the only reason I still sometimes browse through tweets.

  3. unknown user
    Link
    What I use Twitter for: Following IRL friends. Following people whose opinions are interesting to me. Getting news from two-three selected news sources. Getting updates from websites and content...

    What I use Twitter for:

    • Following IRL friends.
    • Following people whose opinions are interesting to me.
    • Getting news from two-three selected news sources.
    • Getting updates from websites and content creators.
    2 votes
  4. Eva
    Link
    It's just fun! You talk about yourself, you talk about other people, you post about things you'd normally think too mundane to talk about, whatever you like!

    It's just fun! You talk about yourself, you talk about other people, you post about things you'd normally think too mundane to talk about, whatever you like!

    2 votes
  5. [2]
    pleure
    Link
    I think I've said this before here, but I'd use twitter if it was designed around microblogging about my life to my friends and family.

    I think I've said this before here, but I'd use twitter if it was designed around microblogging about my life to my friends and family.

    1 vote
    1. DonQuixote
      Link Parent
      You could do that, but getting them to follow you might be the problem, lol. On the other hand, with all the promoted ads in almost all the social media today, there's really not much different. I...

      You could do that, but getting them to follow you might be the problem, lol. On the other hand, with all the promoted ads in almost all the social media today, there's really not much different. I have some relations who microblog among their siblings using group chat. If you can call it blogging. Ad free for them.

      2 votes
  6. [4]
    BlackLedger
    Link
    A potential source of experienced developers when it goes out of business.

    A potential source of experienced developers when it goes out of business.

    3 votes
  7. Enigma
    Link
    Not really-- I actually didn't use Twitter until maybe two years ago. I stayed away from it thinking it was more of a fad.

    Not really-- I actually didn't use Twitter until maybe two years ago. I stayed away from it thinking it was more of a fad.

    1 vote
  8. edward
    Link
    Twitter is a politics machine for me. While I mostly discuss politics on reddit (and here a little bit). I find Twitter is great for following actual politicians (and groups) to keep track of what...

    Twitter is a politics machine for me. While I mostly discuss politics on reddit (and here a little bit). I find Twitter is great for following actual politicians (and groups) to keep track of what they are up to and learn about up and coming politicians (like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez).