Twitter Dictionary
A guide to help you understand
Twitter chatter and slang.
Last updated: Friday
November 06, 2009
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a free social messaging tool that lets people stay connected
through brief text message updates up to 140 characters in length.
Twitter is based on you answering the question "What are you doing?" You
then post thoughts, observations and goings-on during the day. Your
update is posted on your Twitter profile page through SMS text
messaging, the Twitter Web site, instant messaging, RSS, e-mail or
through other social applications and sites, such as Facebook.
Twitter
Dictionary: Understanding Twitter Chat and Slang
As with any new social medium, there is an
entire vocabulary that users of the Twitter service adopt. Most of the
Twitter-based terms and phrases are used to describe the collection of
people who use the service, while other terms are used in reference to
describe specific functions and features of the service itself. Here are
more than 20 words and phrases that are associated with the Twitter social
service:
@reply:
The @reply means a Twitter update (tweet) that is directed to another
user in reply to one of their updates. A @reply will be saved in the
user's replies tab. Replies are sent either by clicking the 'reply' icon
next to an update or typing @ username message
(e.g., @user I saw that movie too!).
BiggerTwitter: An app (or add-on) that can be used to post
tweets longer than 140 characters on Twitter. BiggerTwitter works by
placing a link in the tweet.
Blackbird:
The name of a Twitter client for BlackBerry smartphones.
Dweet:
Slang term used to describe a tweet send by a user who is drunk.
Fail Whale:
On the Twitter site, the Fail Whale is an image of a whale held up by
birds and nets. This image shows that Twitter has been overloaded or
failed.
Follower / following: On Twitter, blogs, and other social media
sites, a follower is someone who subscribes to receives your updates. On
the Twitter Web site "following" someone means you will see their tweets
(Twitter updates) in your personal timeline. Twitter lets you see who
you follow and also who is following you. Followers are people who
receive other people's Twitter updates.
Hash tag:
A hash tag or hashtag is a way of organizing your Tweets for
Twitter search engines. Users simply prefix a message with a community
driven hash tag to enable others to discover relevant posts. One
commonly used hash tag on Twitter is #followfriday where users network
by providing the names of their favorite people to follow on Twitter.
Mistweet:
Slang term used to describe a tweet that you later regret having sent.
PocketTweets:
The name of a mobile Web-based Twitter client for the iPhone. You can
use it to see the latest tweets from your contacts or to update your
status remotely.
Retweet:
Abbreviated as RT, retweet is used on Twitter to show you are tweeting
content that has been posted by another user. The format is
RT @username where username is the Twitter
name of the person you are retweeting.
Twaffic:
A slang term used to mean "Twitter traffic".
Twalking:
Slang term used to describe someone who is walking while they tweet (a
Twitter message) using a mobile device.
Twebay:
Slang term used to describe selling (or promoting) an eBay item on
Twitter.
Tweeple:
A slang term used to mean "Twitter people" and is used to refer to
Twitter users.
Tweet:
Describes a Twitter update. A tweet is basically whatever you type into
the Web box to answer that question, using 140 characters or less.
People tweet personal messages, random thoughts, post links, or anything
else that fits in the character requirements.
Twewbie:
Short for "Twitter newbie" it is a slang term used to describe someone
new to Twitter.
Twidroid:
The name of a full-featured Twitter app designed for use on Android
mobile phones.
Twishing:
Twishing is a combination of the words Twitter and phishing. It is the
act of sending a message to a Twitter user in an attempt to obtain his
or her name and password. The message may instruct the recipient to
visit a Web site where he or she is asked to log in. The Web site,
however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information. See "Beware
of Twishing" in the Did You Know...? section of Webopedia for
more information on Twishing.
Twitosphere:
An expression used to describe the "World of Twitter."
Twitter
Sparq: The name of the first advertising service for Twitter.
Sparq provides a self-service interface that lets advertisers quickly
set up the ads. The ads appear on the right-hand column on Twitter as
Tweet Now. When someone clicks on the link, it automatically populates
the tweet box with the advertiser's message. This can include a link, as
well as an option for the user to customize or add to the message.
Twitterers:
Refers to people who send tweets on the Twitter service.
Twittermaps:
A mash-up that lets Twitter users update their locations on a Google Map
and send a tweet with it.
Twitturly:
The name of an online Web service that tracks Web addresses (URL) that
are being tweeted about the most on Twitter.
Twittworking:
Short for "Twitter networking" it is a slang term used to
describe Twitterers who use Twitter to network.
If you know of
a Twitter term or phrase that is not included in our list,
please let
us know.
Based in Nova Scotia, Vangie Beal is has been
writing about technology for more than a decade. She is a frequent
contributor to
EcommerceGuide and
managing editor at
Webopedia. You can
tweet her online @AuroraGG.
Last updated: November 06, 2009
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Webopedia: Guide: Social Media and Your Business
The following Webopedia Guides to social media and social networking
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The following list is not a complete list, but based on the site
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EcommerceGuide: Why Twitter Should Matter to E-Commerce Shops
Twitter may not be common among small e-commerce shops yet, but don't
think your competition isn't thinking of ways to use the free service.
Some of the practical applications listed below may offer insight into
how you can use Twitter to grow your online sales.
EcommerceGuide: How to Use Twitter as an Online Marketing Tool
Twitter offer businesses a new way to market products, promote sales and
boost revenue — if you tweet right, that is.
Expert Tips for a Tweeting Business
It's easy enough to use Twitter, but businesses have to use social media
marketing in the same way they use any form of marketing — with a
business plan and knowledge — to be successful. |
