by Rainier Wong

Created on: August 24, 2009

Twitter is a social networking site that allows its members to submit up to 140 words of information known as tweets to let their followers know the latest news about themselves, what they have been doing lately or what they intend to do. This popular networking site is also utilized by famous people including actors LeVar Burton and Bill Cosby; singers Jessica Simpson and Mariah Carey, and politicians like Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

You can easily find which famous people are using Twitter by using the "Suggested Users" option when you search for people to follow. Unlike a ordinary Twitter user, famous people have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers. If you wish to follow any of the famous people on Twitter, you can do so by clicking on the tickbox on the left of the person's photograph until a tick appears on it and then, by clicking on the "Follow" button. Like other people, the famous people also follow other Twitter users as well.

It is indeed to know of the person you intend to follow is actually the person. You can know the person is actually who he or she if you can see a the words "Verified account" on the person's page. This measure is important as anyone may pretend to be a famous person to scam his or her followers. If you do not see "Verified account" written on the famous person page, the best thing is not to follow him or her even if there is a link to his or her official website unless you have earlier came to his or her page on Twitter via a link on his or her official website.

I believe Twitter is popular among some famous people because it is not so cluttered up as it is with other social networking sites. The only tasks users of Twitter are allowed to perform are to post tweets and to follow other members. This helps a famous person to get his or her message across more quickly as it helps users to get the latest messages immediately after they reach the person's page. Twitter also helps a famous person to get more closer to his or her fans or people whom he or she has influence on. You may be able to find a tweet of a famous person which sounds informal in its presentation. For example, you may find tweets like "I am getting ready to..." and "Come and spend an evening...". In order words, the tweets were written as if they are talking to their own friends.

It is also easier to update your status and tell the latest news about yourself on Twitter than it is on your own website. This is one reason, I believe, why famous people use Twitter. With twitter, the famous person can also make his or her website less cluttered up as he or she no longer has to post updates on it. Instead, a visitor can just click on a link that leads to the twitter page to get the latest information.

Learn more about this author, Rainier Wong.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.