Twitter has become a prominent part of our culture. So much so, that the president of the United States spends a considerable amount of time communicating with the citizens of America via Twitter. It is also a prominent part of how many companies communicate with their customers. I work at Apple, and we have an entire social response team that provides customers with technical support and information via Twitter.
While I think that Twitter is useful in some circumstances, I think there are several considerations that one should keep in mind before deciding to send Twitter messages out into cyberspace. For one thing, you have to be super cautious of what you say, as many readers will add tone that you may or may not have intended. The other consideration is ensuring that you don’t accidentally send out a message that will damage your personal brand. Or send personal message to everyone on the web, thinking you are sending a direct message to one individual.
At the end of the day, once you send a Twitter message, you cannot easily recall it. So I strongly encourage anyone who uses Twitter to be mindful of their brand, their words, and their audience. What we do in social media can impact our professional relationships, and future career opportunities.
Reflections on Instructional Design 