Twitter training for activists22nd June 2010

Overview

• 7.00-7.30 - Introduction to Twitter

• 7.30-8pm - An Anatomy of Twitter

+++ 8.00-8.15pm - SHORT BREAK +++

• 8.20-8.45pm - Building a community/movement

• 8.45-9.15pm - Using Twitter for activism

Social media: a short intro

Internet as social condition

"The Internet is actually a social condition where everyone in the network society is connected directly, without intermediation, to everyone else."

Eben Moglen, Anarchism triumphant: Free Software and the Death of Copyright

Social Media: A definition

Social media are Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term

often refers to activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos

and audio. This interaction depends on the "building" of shared meaning among communities, as people share

stories and experiences.

“

”

What's SocialMedia?

Ask Wikipedia

The Rise of the Social

Age of Deference

Age of Reference

Technological factors

Storage costs (car vs glass of wine)

Free/low cost

How the first leads to the second technology (inc free software movement)

Twitter’s secret history…

• Twitter started life as an idea for SMS social updating called Status

• Aim was to achieve real-time spontaneous information dispersal

• Based on Txtmob – an sms platform used for mobilising protestors at the Democrat Convention in Boston

An Anatomy of Twitter

Twitter anatomy

Following People or groups on Twitter you are following. You will be able to view all “tweets” from that individual or group.

Followers

People on Twitter who are following you. Anyone on Twitter can follow you without your permission unless you set your preferences so that you approve of each request. Followers will be able to see all “tweets” sent from your account.

Tweet A 140 character or less message

@Use the “@” symbol for sending messages to individuals. It allows for conversations to take place, and the addressee is more likely to read it. Your followers will also be able to read them.

# Hashtags

These symbols in Twitter are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. They help people find the conversation faster. You create a hashtag by prefixing a word with a hash symbol. For example: #eurostar Please look at the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGbLWQYJ6iM to get examples of #

Re-Tweet (or RT) Re-tweeting passes on a message and helps spread the word from friends and followers to a wider audience

DM Direct messages allow for private conversations over Twitter

Personalise your account

• Avatar: 73p x 73px Avatar of you/your logo/not you

• Strong bio: Limited to 140 so must be clear an concise. Heps with search. But also helps with identification: Real bio or not? Real location or not?

• Customise colours: Customise colour of text, links, sidebar and sidebar border in line organisational colours or personal fave

• Custom background: Aim for any logo in the left margin, and include additional contact information (email, URL, phone) and links to other social media accounts if appropriate

Twitter add-ons

• Twitpic

• Tweetvideo

• Bit.ly

• etc

Twitter clients

Building a community

Targeted following

“Lists aren’t just static listings of users, but rather curated Twitter streams of the latest tweets from a specified set of users.”

- mashable

Tone of voice

• The way we communicate in social media is as important, if not more important, than what we’re actually saying

• To this end, the language you should use should reflect who you are or your organisation’s personality where appropriate

• This will give you a ‘voice’ in social media and encourage engagement, trust and credibility

Engaging: a word to the wise

• Your Twitter account is your your organisation’s “human face” on the social web

• It mustn’t advertise anything or post links

• It must engage others in discussion. The more compelling the conversation, the more people will want to engage

Engagement

• Listen to your followers: respond, add value, be helpful – reactively and proactively

• Check to see if your fave journos or ‘celebrities’ use Twitter and talk to them when appropriate

• Follow relevant events, news stories, hashtags, etc and engage wider networks when and where appropriate

Using Twitter for Activism

The Great Climate Swoop

• Direct action against Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on 17th October 2009

• Lots of Twittering from the media, from the police and Climate Camp activists

Action reporting & coordinating

News updates

Mediated

Disintermediated

On the ground insight

DIY reporting

Twitter & Media

Swoop example

Election example

The case of Elliot Madison

Just Do It! Vs the Daily Mail

• Using election #hashtags to find media outlet on Twitter

• Sending @messages to media/journalist profiles

• Most asked permission or paid up… not the Daily Mail

Just Do It! Vs the Daily Mail

• Using election #hashtags to find media outlet on Twitter

• Sending @messages to media/journalist profiles

• Most asked permission or paid up… not the Daily Mail

Twitter security

• Some things to think about…

• Are you incriminating anyone via Twitpics, Tweetvideos; linked content (e.g. YouTube, Flickr etc) or username, e.g. “With @joeblogs scaling fence”

• If you wish to remain low-key or anonymous think about your Twitter bio, e.g. Does your personal URL section link to your Facebook Page? Is your hometown listed in location, etc

• Think before you tweet – it’s very way to say the wrong thing; if it makes you stop and think then stop and think

Twitcablary

• The tool is Twitter

• If you use it you are a Twitterer

• Tweet is both a (n) and (v):

• You post tweets

• You tweet information

• Never ‘twit or ‘twat’ (viz. Cameron, D., 2009)

• GO FORTH AND TWEET!