Twitter Terms
When I first started using Twitter, it was confusing to figure out how it worked. Twitter has its own language and terms, so I created a guide to help you navigate Twitter like a pro:
Tweet: A message sent on Twitter.
@: Using the @ followed by a user name means you are either replying to a user, or referencing them in a message.
DM: Direct Message means you are sending a message directly to an individual user, and they will be the only one that will be able to view the message.
RT: Retweet or Via is the equivalent of forwarding a message to your followers. You always include the username of the originator of the message to credit their thoughts.
#: A hashtag is a way to recognize a subject or thought in a conversation. For example, when talking about the University of Texas, people always tag their message as #ut. This allows you to search a subject and gather everyone’s comments in one place.
This is also popular at conferences where all the attendees share their experiences online. This past spring, the ACUI conference use #ACUI as their hashtag. Bridgewater State University is a great example using the hashtag #BSUlife that lets staff, students, and faculty communicate on campus.
