Part social network, part news network, part overwhelming noise, Twitter is a unique social network because the default is to make content open (except for direct messages sent between users) and you never know who may read, react, or write you back. Students, faculty, scientists, scholars and researchers are active users of Twitter and each discipline has its own subculture.
Content shared on Twitter can range from formal (sharing a link to something you've recently published, tweeting about conference presentations you're attending, or sharing out about funding you've recently been awarded), to informal (photos of your pets, your discipline's take on a new meme, reflecting on the coffee that's getting you through your day, or sharing out fantastically nerdy puns).
Accounts on Twitter are free.
Getting Started on TwitterFive simple steps will help establish your account as legitimate and memorable.
Your user name is how you will be identified on Twitter. User names are unique and can be changed at any time. A user name based on your real name is a good idea if you plan to use Twitter professionally but isn't a necessity. Adding something related to your area of study can also make a user name memorable, professional, and fun. Check out the examples below for inspiration:
Promote your field or subject of study like @AndyBugGuy
(Andrew Warren, Entomologist)
Make a pun with your name like @goodgracious23
(Grace Wilkinson, Limnologist & Ecosystem Ecologist)
Make a pun related to your field of study like @hashtagoras
(Joseph A. Howley, Classics professor)
Declare your expertise like @ProfJasmine
(Jasmine Roberts, Communications professor)
Claim your name like @saragoldrickrab
(Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of Education Policy and Sociology)
Get rid of the default egg picture! Twitter users associate it with "newbies" and "spammers." You don't have to use a photo of yourself but doing so will help people identify you, both online and off.
Providing your name, or a variation of your name, will help others locate and identify you on Twitter. Both user names and names are searchable but names are not unique since there are multiple people in the world with the same name.
Just like the profile photo you need to have something here for your account to look legitimate. Try to add short info about yourself such as research interests, where you work or study, hobbies, pets, favorite foods, etc. Pro tip: you can use emojis!
This one comes last because it's not essential but it's easy so you might as well. Choose an image that reflects one of your interests, fits the size, and will help others and remember who you are.
Want more? Wired Magazine's 2018 Article "How To Use Twitter: Critical Tips For New Users" is still relevant and helpful!
Feeling lost? Try Tweetdeck, a free tool tool that lets you easily follow different hashtags, user groups, and more.
Looking to better understand #AcademicTwitter or get started establishing your professional Twitter presence? Check out this awesome article by @Sarah_Mojarad https://t.co/HP76icrsmT It's wonderfully comprehensive, and has tips applicable for a wide range of disciplines!
— Cara (@stonca01) October 22, 2021
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Hashtags (
): are words and phrases (without spaces) preceded by a # appended to a tweet to mark it as related to that topic. They can define sub-communities and provide easy topic navigation. Example academic and research hashtags include:
How do you find new hashtags to use? See what important people in your field are using in their posts, and check out what your professional organizations are using. Often when an organization or association holds a conference, they assign a specific hashtag for attendees to use. It's a great way to share out information from the presentations you're attending, or to follow along from home if you're not able to go that year.
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