Why I'm sick of “How NOT to use Twitter” posts...

If you’ve been on Twitter at all in the past year, you’ve more than likely stumbled across a "How NOT to use Twitter" story or two. Or twenty. (EDITOR'S NOTE: I posted this last night and came across this PC Mag article this morning which basically exemplifies my point) Although they often mean well, typically included in these “best practice” blog posts and news articles are tips like “Don’t spam your followers by always pushing content” or “Don’t reply to every single @ reply…it clogs up other people’s Twitter streams with your conversation that can be taken offline” or my least favorite (and most often heard/read), “Don’t tweet about what you’re eating for lunch.”

I’m sick of it.

People: USE TWITTER HOW YOU WANT TO USE TWITTER.

There, I said it. And I feel better. Now, many of you are probably wondering why I’ve gotten so angry (you see, anger is expressed in all caps when you’re trying to show it in a written format). The reason I’m so frustrated is because Twitter is SUBJECTIVE. It isn’t a 10th Grade geometry exam or a paint-by-numbers kit with a "right way" to use it. Are there ways you can annoy people on Twitter? Sure. But does that mean you’re wrong? Absolutely not.

I’ll support this by giving an example of my disdain for the “Don’t tweet about your food” rule. Here’s a series of tweets from fellow Sioux Falls Twitterer @theamillerryan, myself, and a third party who entered the discussion toward the end…



We went from someone (@taral) not even thinking about “one of [her] favorite treats” to being reminded to go out and buy them because it’s been awhile since she’s had them.

Why? Because Thea chose to violate this seemingly important “Don’t tweet about food” rule. In fact, she almost violated two "rules" because she also had a back and forth with me that could have probably “been moved offline” if it had gone back and forth one or two more times.

I know that’s a fairly extreme example. The point isn’t that someone tweeting about food inspired someone else to remember a favorite snack. The point is that this mindset of “I get annoyed when people talk about their lunch” somehow turned into a “Twitter tip on what not to do" at some point during Twitter’s evolution into more mainstream popularity.

Is it true that people might be annoyed if all you tweet about is what you had for lunch and dinner? Probably. Here’s the thing…they don’t have to follow you. So if you get irritated by someone doing it, unfollow them. Otherwise, stop complaining about it. And stop trying to turn what started as a good, free, open atmosphere into a caged and restricted realm that best suits you. It’s not about you. It’s about everyone else in the Twitterverse.

I follow people because I want to follow them. If they don’t follow me back, I understand. If they don’t provide me the value I’m seeking, I don’t follow them. I don’t begrudgingly read every tweet they send and wish they wouldn’t act the way they act. People say you shouldn’t broadcast. @amazonmp3 ONLY broadcasts, and I LOVE following that account. They offer me a service: unbelievable deals on (typically) good music. Do I buy an album every day? No. But you know what? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the albums I’ve come across as a result of the @amazonmp3 account ONLY being a broadcast channel (duh duh duhhhh, cue Wilhelm Scream).

Now, to play my own devil’s advocate, I’ll admit that there are times when tips and best practice posts are completely acceptable, if not necessary. If one of the many bright minds in the social media realm is explaining to other social media entrepreneurs that “tweeting about food isn’t the best way to build followers,” that’s just good advice. The problem is that not everyone is trying to gain followers or provide wisdom and insight to other social media professionals. Some people just want to share their day with friends and family and not feel like they’re doing it “wrong.” If your goal is to become an influential Twitter user with a massive list of followers and fervent supporters willing to retweet every link you drop, then yes, you should listen to the “How not to use Twitter” posts. But if you’re a normal human being willing to share your life with willing followers, do what you enjoy.

The overall point of the post is this - Be who you want to be. Tweet how you want to tweet.

Just. Be. Yourself. That’s what made Twitter great in the first place.

There was a time when Twitter didn’t have “twitiquette” to tell people how to “do” Twitter. It was fun then. Hopefully that time hasn’t quite passed yet.