Twitter

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a social media service where you can share posts called ‘tweets’ and follow other users so their posts appear in your ‘feed’, which is in delivered in real time. Tweets are limited to 280 text characters but can include extra content such as images, videos, links, keywords, location information and polls. You can also make ‘mentions’ of other users to add a link to their profile in your post, and ‘hashtags’ to link your post to other tweets about the same topic. 

You can interact with other users on Twitter by ‘tweeting back’, liking or ‘retweeting’ their post. You can also send direct messages to communicate privately, and broadcast live streams to your followers using the Periscope app (which is also owned by Twitter). 

Twitter accounts are open to the public by default, but the settings can be adjusted to make your account private and/or protect your individual tweets. 

All Twitter are free. The company earns money by showing you advertising content, offering promoted posts and data licensing. Twitter accounts can also be linked to and shared from third party websites such as Wordpress.

Website: twitter.com

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS app

How do people use Twitter?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use content sharing services like Twitter.

Twitter is used for: content sharing, live streaming, location sharing, messaging/online chat, online relationships, and photo/video sharing.

How can you report online abuse, ask for content to be removed or block someone?

• Report a tweet or direct message
  Twitter lets you report abuse or inappropriate content in a tweet or direct message using the icon at the top of the content.
• Report a user
  How to report abusive or harassing behaviour on Twitter.
• How to block accounts on Twitter
  Control who you interact with on Twitter and stop specific accounts from contacting you.

How can you protect your personal information?

• Profile visibility settings
  Outlines what information on your profile is visible publicly and what items on your profile allow the visibility to be configured.
• Public and protected tweets
  Outlines the difference between public and protected tweets and who can see them.
• Twitter privacy
  Learn how to make your account as secure as possible.

Key safety links

• Safety and security
  Offers a range of general help, safety and security information when using Twitter including, hacking, spam, sensitive content and abuse.
• Twitter rules
  Rules and policies relating to Twitter including, guidelines and enforcements options.
• Terms of service
  Outlines the rules you agree to by using Twitter.
• Privacy policy
  Outlines how Twitter collects and uses your data.