Credit: Courtesy of Twitter, Inc.
Ok, we'll admit it: Twitter isn't a green-only site. But when it comes to effecting social change, there's no overestimating the impact of a network that allows users to see exactly what people all over the world are doing—and how, and why.
How to Use Twitter
A brief overview, for those of you who haven't yet given in to the lure of the tweet: Twitter is a site that allows users to post constant updates on anything, from un-exotic topics like what they ate for lunch to more philosophical ramblings. The catch? You can only use 140 characters at once. If you want to post your own updates, you'll need to sign up for a free account, and from there, you can become a follower of other posters (and they can follow you), which means their Tweets will show up on your home page. And then there are the Twitter abbreviations (saving space is important when you only get 140 characters): @, which, when used in front of another user's name, will link to them; @Reply, which shows that you're responding to another user's Tweet; RT, which means you're reposting another Tweet; and the hashtag, #, which you can use to turn a word into a searchable keyword.
Why We Love Twitter
The brief posts that make Twitter such a phenomenon are an essential tool for spreading news, videos, and cultural commentary: a simple, quick way to get the attention of hundreds of thousands of people globally. And when it comes to spreading green news, the reach of the site is key. In April, a Tennessee coal ash spill went nearly unreported for two days, until a group of Twitter users turned the #coalash hashtag into a way of reaching thousands with the news. Other hashtags, like #greenstream, #earthtweet, and #ecomonday can help you track down even more news, green living tips, and eco-minded Twitterers.
Planet Green on Twitter
Ready to get started? Sign up to follow the Twitter feeds of Planet Green (@PlanetGreen) and our NGO partners, TreeHugger (@TreeHugger) and individual TreeHugger writers, or just get the headlines with the TreeHugger RSS feed (@TH_RSS).
