Do you use Twitter?

I've never been interested in Twitter. It's like reading only the headlines of a newspaper on not the actual stories.

But if I were to tweet, I'd probably choose to do so in Japanese since you can fit more thoughts into the character limit (unless the limit is halved for double-byte languages).

I'm not a Twit (is that the right word?) or tweet, but I have heard that in the aftermath of the disaster when communications were down, Twitter became one of the most important methods of disseminating information quickly. I guess this is the first major natural disaster in which social network sites like Twitter and Facebook have played a big role.

No Tweet, tweet here either. Tried facebook but cancelled my account soon after.

E-Mail, IM, Voice/Video chat is how I stay in contact with friends and family.

I use it and I love it. It's very approachable. Facebook requires a year of study to really start to use. Those of us who use it realize it's a useful tool. People who stick their noses up at it are missing out. Among other things, Twitter was the one way to contact loved ones reliably after the quake.

I know they got their uses and many companies use them as tools for advertising, etc. For me they just didn't give me any extra functionality/benefits.

So saying that people stick their nose up and are missing out is sorta arrogant, IMHO.

Everyone has different needs and there is no universal tool that satisfies everyone. I was in full-time contact online with friends and overseas family after the quake and didn't use twitter.

No Twitter and no Facebook. When I read about all the problems that come with it, no thank you. There are plenty of other ways to stay in contact with friends and family. I feel that my privacy is at stake with these sites. And as Zenny says, it really gets on my nerves that you are supposed to have a Facebook account nowadays to get some extra promotions from a company.

twitter has been great with the East Japan "mess" Some excellent updates from a small core of reporters.

Answered. I don't posess the requisite ego or vanity...

USNinJapan2 - there is difference in having twitter and actively "tweeting" When the need arises I 'follow' certain people as they keep me informed. I dont have anything worthwhile to contribute, therefore I don't tweet myself.

Like most internet-related applications, how Twitter is used is up to the person doing the tweeting. If it is for ego or vanity, it will be used as such. If it is for conveying vital and timely information, it will be used as such. I use twitter to keep my customers updated on discounts, relevant information or just to keep in touch - a marketing ploy, as it were.

During the March 11th earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent meltdown a lot of information was distributed quickly by both twitter and facebook; more quickly than CNN or NHK. Some information provided links and phone numbers.

On the other hand, who really cares if "I'm going to bed." is posted or not.

Carcharodon

I hear you, but if your Twitter use is 95% following and 5% tweeting then I don't think you're using Twitter as it was intended by its founders. Sure Twitter may be helpful during an emergency, granted cell service remains up, but that's a very small fraction of the time.

I got sucked into it because I found it was the only way to communicate with some people. But I only use it for sending messages and occasionally re-tweeting stuff. I think tweeting your own opinions is just like talking to a wall. Then again, I'm on JT. :)

If Twitter ever had any use, that has largely disappeared due to the sheer volume of trivial innanities posted. I have literally seen women wandering through a supermarket, twittering on practically every step they make as if someone, somewhere, would think it's important.

I tried, then I started feeling a neurotic teenager full of acnes having to write so many unuseful things about unimportant events to unknown people who are doing the same thing. I gave up after one month, after I realised I was de-learning and getting empty. I returned to my books in a shock treatment. Facebook too, made me feel awkward, like holding a horrible drink in a boring party where you have to smile blandly to everybody, wave your hands to the same people every two hours, and people keep talking about things you don't care. Internet is great, but it should not replace LIVE social meetings.

I have Twitter on my iPhone, but rarely log in these days. It was fun to play with a year or so ago, but I can't be bothered to log in, read all the tweets, and write a tweet myself.

i am sure it can be useful but what is the point of people just spewing out endless thoughts/comments/updates whatever? most of it strikes me as banal.

Both Twitter and Facebook were the ONLY ways I could communicate with my friends and family in Japan and abroad when the earthquake hit. Phones and email servers were jammed. With Twitter I was able to let people know which park I had evacuated to and when I got safely home. So it's not totally useless. It's also an excellent networking/marketing tool for the self employed (the reason why I opened an account in the first place).

Livvie, it's true.

Livvie.

You are wrong other Internet based forms of communication also worked.

Some posters here clearly have no idea how to use twitter.