Twitter: Difference between revisions

Twitter is a social media site that allows users to send messages containing information in a brief and concise way. These messages are called tweets. Twitter helps the user hone his or her writing skills<ref>MichaelHyatt</ref>. With only a space of 140 characters, a tweet is an excellent example of what writing for digital media entails because it forces the user to write pointedly.

Tweeting allows users to access information quickly.  A twitter feed, which defines as "a list of updates or tweets that are constantly being updated . . . and are usually arranged in chronological order" has become a source for information about friends, the weather, entertainment, and news (Doctor). By following sites such as USA today, Huffington Post, and The New York Times, a twitter user can stay updated on what is happening in the world.   

Not only has twitter become an aggregator of news and information, it has also become a way for users to share and report their own news. Twitter allows users to participate<ref>The Twitter effect</ref> in breaking news stories. Both journalists and non-journalists are using twitter to report significant current events. As Matthew Ingram<ref>David Carr</ref> points out in his article we are all members of the media through the use of twitter.

Twitter has been called a micro-blogging site because it offers specific information about the user. Twitter can help jobseekers develop their own personal brand<ref>Amplify Your Personal Brand</ref> by allowing them to follow and interact with businesses or employers.   

Over the past few years, employers have looked at potential employees’ presence on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter during the hiring process. Veronica Fielding<ref> Improving Your Job Search</ref>writes, “It's becoming more common for recruiters and hiring managers to value a candidate's presence on popular social networks, in addition to traditional qualifications such as a strong resume and interview skills.” Because social media sites provide more information for an employer to consider when hiring, it is important that a student searching for a future career utilize twitter professionally.