Twitter is a browser or mobile phone based free application that allows users to post a short message online. Sometimes referred to as “micro-blogging,” Twitter allows a maximum of 140 characters per post.
The question posed ahead of that open box of 140 characters is “What are you doing?” That length limit makes this an ideal tool for text messaging on a mobile phone.
In February, Pew reported that 1 in 10 adults has posted through Twitter, 1 in 5 young adults, and interestingly, lower-income households are more likely to use Twitter than more the affluent. Many journalists have been early adopters. And churches are beginning to consider what this venue offers us specifically.
There is an “in the trenches” feel to the short posts on location, similar to a wire message. stop. So realtime event reporting is a natural application. This year at the 2009 General Convention in Anaheim, episcopal communicators, deputations and observers will be using Twitter both to receive messages (such as “hearing on A-122 beginning at half past the hour in room 123.”) and send messages.
As there are so many messages coming across Twitter in any moment, it becomes important to be able to find the messages appropriate to one’s interest or community. Adding to the 140 characters a “tag,” or unique label allows users to receive those messages in their own channel. In Twitter lingo this is called a “hash tag” and is preceeded by the pound sign. At the annual meeting of episcopal communicators the hash tag #ecgc was chosen. Hopefully this tag will be applied judiciously to twitter posts, but also to blog entries, photos stored on flickr, and anywhere a “tag” might be used.
The diocese is beginning our Twitter use by tweeting the diocesan prayer cycle. Diocesan prayers are (at this writing) scheduled each week at noon on Monday and Wednesday. We will continue to add prayers from our corporate community, but this will always be a low volume list. Our Twitter ID is diocesemo.
Another great organizing use for Twitter is to communicate a schedule. To receive “tweets” (Twitter posts) a person doesn’t need a computer, or even to be subscribed to the online service. They simply need a cell phone which can receive text messages. (Message charges apply according to individual mobile service plans.)
To sign on to an account without being registered on Twitter you would send the text message “follow username” and send it to 40404. To stop following, text “unfollow username” to 40404. You can test this out with our prayer cycle texting “follow diocesemo” to 40404. Remember we are only sending on Monday and Wednesdays, so you might have to wait for a bit to receive anything!
You can imagine the many potential uses for this type of scheduling:
- on a mission trip, sending out a wake-up call to everyone’s phone
- changing a rehearsal because of inclement weather
- gathering a group in a large public space
- reminders of meeting times or group obligations, to name a few.
Waters of Hope, the bicycle race around the Diocese of Missouri, May 25-31, will be using Twitter. Before the race, to raise funds and awareness, and during the race both as a logistics tool and a way to let all our friends who are not able to be there feel a part of the ride.
Tuesday, April 21st, 6:30-9 pm at St Mark’s Church in St Louis we will inaugurate our technology know-how series with a workshop on Twitter. We’ll send and receive messages on cells, sign up for Twitter accounts, tweet, tag, and explore some of the add-ons that make this such an interesting part of your communications toolbox. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP bfelice@diocesemo.org.
Tags: Application, Communication, General Convention, Waters of Hope
