by Max Lehmann

Created on: October 19, 2010

Twitter set up shop in 2006 as a pared down social networking opportunity that simply asked "What are you doing?" and let users update a status line. It's seen monumental growth since back then and is used by millions worldwide, but in the wake of all this success many people who come across it for the first time ask "what's the point?". I hope, with this article, to make that a little clearer and to show some of the ways new users and old can make the most of the site.

First, let's explore the limitations. While you can send as many messages as you like, the site is limited to allowing each message to contain 140 characters or less. You need to be succinct in your communication. The reason for this limitation was that the original concept was that of being able to send a text to a group rather than an individual. 140 characters fits within the SMS limit of 160 characters with room spare to attach a username.

Twitter has been described as microblogging countless times, but while a blog is a deliberate archive (or log) of content, Twitter does not archive its posts indefinitely.

So, drawbacks aside, what does the site have going for it? Well, it's incredibly popular, it's driven by the zeitgeist and there is a certain vibrancy to communication within. For anyone wanting a snapshot of the world right now it can be invaluable. Each user posts their own thoughts, opinions, observations and so forth and global communication ensues. Users can choose who to follow and whether to broadcast to the world or just the people they choose to follow themselves. Everything hits a giant database that throws back the content in response to people following individuals, people searching, and people browsing through general trends which are published.

So how can you make Twitter work for you? Well, among the most popular uses are the following:

- Finding out what a favourite celebrity is up to
Many famous or semi-famous people use Twitter to communicate with their fans. It can offer an amazing insight into the lives of people you'd otherwise not get close to.

- Finding out all about breaking news as it happens
Some amazing stories have broken on Twitter. It might be the latest gossip on what Steve Jobs has to say about Apple, or it may be a passer by happening to catch a story on his mobile phone as it unfolds before him - the plane that crash landed on the Hudson was brought to the attention of journalists in this way.

- Offer your opinions to broadcasters and journalists
These people

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