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Twitter

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a popular online news and social networking platform, downloadable in the form of an app on all mobile devices as well as accessible through an internet browser. Users of the platform are able to read, create and ‘Retweet’ images, text posts, videos and gifs. In order to view a public post or ‘Tweet’ you do not have to be an account holder. However, if you want to post or comment on another user’s post, you must create an account.

Each ‘Tweet’ can be up to 280 characters long and may include links to external website. ‘Tweets’ may also include ‘Hashtags’ in them. An example of this would be #ImACybersmiler and #STOPCYBERBULLYINGDAY which are frequently used on Twitter by people supporting our Cybersmile Positive Activist Program. Hashtags can be searched in order to view posts based around one specific topic and used by account holders to find like-minded people and/or gain recognition from people with the same interests as them.

When setting up an account with Twitter, you get the opportunity to select a personal username. This will be in the format of @Name. An example of this is @CybersmileHQ or @SCDHQ (Stop Cyberbullying Day HQ).

Once you have created your Twitter account, you can ‘Follow’ other users meaning all posts made or ‘Retweeted’ by this user will appear in a personalized, central feed. By default, all Twitter accounts are public, meaning that anyone can view what you post without needing to follow you. If you want to make your profile private so users need permission to view it, you can do this in your privacy settings.

Twitter users can interact with one another in multiple ways. If they see a ‘Tweet’ posted by another user that they would like to share on their own profile, they can do so by ‘Retweeting’ the post and keeping the original publisher’s username. ‘Tweets’ can also be ‘Favorited’ by other users and later viewed in the ‘Favorites’ section located on a user’s profile.

By including another person’s username when creating or ‘Reblogging’ a post, you are ‘Mentioning’ a user. When you ‘Mention’ another user, they will receive a notification to say you have done so. You can ‘Mention’ more than one user in a single ‘Tweet’ and users can check their ‘Mentions’ in the connect tab; the same place they will find details of users who have followed them, favorited one of their posts or ‘Retweeted’ them.

As well as having the option to ‘Mention’ other users, you can also send them direct messages. These are known as ‘DMs’ within the online community. Direct messages can generally only be sent to users that are following your account, although some organizations ‘open up’ their DMs so anybody can send them messages. One of the more recently implemented features of Twitter is ‘Group direct messaging’ in which up to 20 users can be added. You can only invite people who ‘Follow’ you to take part in group messaging however, people you add to the group can then add people who follow them to the group also. All direct messaging is private and out of the public eye.

Once someone has created a Twitter account, they have the option to personalize the appearance of their profile. They can do this by adding a profile and cover images to their page. They can also change the colors and background image found on their personal profile. Users can add certain Twitter account holders to ‘Lists’ they create. Individuals can do this so they can group together a certain selection of users when reading their central feed. Anyone can be added to a user’s list. Even if they don’t follow the person doing so. By default, more often than not, ‘Lists’ will be public, meaning all users can view them. This can be changed in your privacy settings.

Popular topics being discussed on Twitter can be identified in the Trends section, allowing users to identify the words, hashtags or phrases being used the most on the site. Trending topics can also be categorized by location.

Twitter Age Restrictions

Twitter does not indicate an age restriction for users within its Terms of Service, however its Privacy Policy states that their services are not directed to people under the age of 13, and if they are alerted to underage users then accounts will be terminated.

How to block a user on Twitter

  1. To block a user on Twitter, go to the user’s profile.
  2. Once on the user’s profile, locate and select the symbol that looks like 3 circles, one on top of the other. The symbol should be located towards the top right-hand side of the user’s profile. Next to the ‘Follow/Following’ button.
  3. Once you have selected the correct symbol, a drop-down menu should appear near the symbol. Find and press the ‘Block @usermame’ button.
  4. When you have chosen the ‘Block @username’ button, a pop-up should appear in the center of the screen. Within the pop-up, it will explain what blocking the account means for you and your safety while using the platform.
  5. If you decide you still want to proceed with the blocking process, select the ‘Block’ button.
  6. Once you have blocked the user, this should become effective immediately.

How to report a user on Twitter

  1. To report a user on Twitter, go to the user’s profile.
  2. Once on the user’s profile, locate and select the symbol that looks like 3 circles, one on top of the other. The symbol should be located towards the top right-hand side of the user’s profile. Next to the ‘Follow/Following’ button.
  3. Once you have selected the correct symbol, a drop-down menu should appear near the symbol. Find and press the ‘Report @username’ button.
  4. Once you have selected the ‘Report @username’ button, a pop-up should appear on the screen. This menu will ask you to select a reason for why you wish to report this user. Select the reason that most closely identifies with why you want to report them.
  5. Once you have selected your reason, choose the ‘Next’ button.
  6. Once you have selected the ‘Next’ button, a second pop-up will appear. In this pop-up, it gives a short description of what happens when a user is reported and also gives you the opportunity to also block the user, as well as reporting them.
  7. When you have reported the user, their profile will be sent to Twitter for review and if the social networking site find that the user is breaching the Twitter Terms of Use, they will take the appropriate course of action.

How to report a Tweet on Twitter

  1. To report a ‘Tweet’ go to the post in question.
  2. Once you have the offending post in front of you, locate and select a small arrow pointing down in the top right-hand corner of the ‘Tweet’.
  3. When you have selected the arrow symbol, a small drop-down menu should appear. Choose the ‘Report Tweet’ option.
  4. Once you have selected ‘Report Tweet’ a pop-up should appear on the screen. It will ask you to select a reason as to why you feel the tweet is violating Twitter’s Terms of Use. Select the reason that most closely identifies with why you’re reporting the ‘Tweet’.
  5. If Twitter find that the post is breaching their terms of use, they will take the appropriate course of action.

How to mute a tweet on Twitter

  1. To mute a tweet, go to the post in question.
  2. Once you have the offending post in front of you, locate and select a small arrow pointing down in the top right-hand corner of the ‘Tweet’.
  3. When you have selected the arrow symbol, a small drop-down menu should appear. Choose the ‘Mute Tweet’ option.
  4. Once selected, you won’t receive any new notifications from that user.

How to mute a user on Twitter

  1. To ‘Mute’ a user, go to the user’s profile.
  2. Once on the user’s profile, locate and select the symbol that looks like 3 circles, one on top of the other. The symbol should be located towards the top right-hand side of the user’s profile. Next to the ‘Follow/Following’ button.
  3. Once you have selected the correct symbol, a drop-down menu should appear near the symbol. Find and press the ‘Mute @username’ button.
  4. Once selected, the account should be muted until you choose to ‘Unmute’ them.

How to report a Twitter DM when using an internet browser

  1. Click into the Direct Message conversation and find the Message you’d like to report.
  2. Hover over the message and click the icon of a circle with a line going through when it appears.
  3. Select ‘Report spam’ or ‘Mark as abusive’ and click again to confirm.

How to report a Twitter DM using iOS or Android

  1. Tap the Direct Message conversation and find the Message you’d like to report.
  2. Tap and hold the Message and select ‘Flag’ from the menu that pops up.
  3. Select ‘Flag as spam’ or ‘Mark as abusive’ on the menu.

How to report a Twitter conversation using a web browser

  1. Click into the Direct Message conversation you’d like to report.
  2. Click the ‘…’ icon.
  3. Select ‘Flag as spam’ or ‘Mark as abusive’ and click again to confirm.

How to report a Twitter conversation using iOS or Android

  1. Swipe left on the Direct Message conversation you’d like to report.
  2. Tap the flag icon.
  3. Select ‘Flag as spam’ or ‘Mark as abusive’.

Twitter Support