New user FAQs
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and coworkers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People post Tweets, which may contain photos, videos, links and up to 140 characters of text. These messages are posted to your profile, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search. Learn more about how to use Twitter.
Do I need anything special to use it?
All you need to use Twitter is an internet connection or a mobile phone. Join us here! Once you're in, begin finding and following accounts whose Tweets interest you. We'll recommend great accounts once you're signed up.
What's a Tweet?
A Tweet is any message posted to Twitter which may contain photos, videos, links and up to 140 characters of text. Click or tap the Tweet button to post the update to your profile. Read our Posting a Tweet article for more information.
How do I find people to follow?
When you create an account, you can search for people by name or @username, import friends from other networks, or invite friends via email. You can also follow some of the people we've suggested.
What does it mean to follow someone on Twitter?
Following someone means you've chosen to subscribe to their Twitter updates. When you follow someone, every time they post a new message, it will appear on your Twitter Home timeline. Read more here.
How do I know who I'm following?
After you click or tap the Follow button on someone's profile, you're following them. See a list of people you're following by clicking on the following link on your profile page or on your home page's sidebar.
How do I know who is following me?
Twitter sends you an email when someone new follows you. Set up your email preferences to notify you when you have a new follower. The 'Followers' link on your profile page or home page's sidebar will also tell you who is following you.
What are follow limits?
Twitter has follow and update limits for stability and abuse control. You can read more about this here.
Who reads my updates?
Your followers read your Tweets. If your Tweets are public, anyone who runs a search for a keyword in your Tweet may be able to see that message. Your Tweets are public by default; if you're hesitant to have people you may not know read your updates, protect your Tweets to approve followers and keep your updates out of search.
How can I send updates to Twitter?
Read our article about how to post a Tweet. You can tweet from twitter.com, from your phone, or from an application.
Can I put my Twitter updates on my blog?
Yes! Put a Twitter widget on your blog or website – anywhere that accepts Javascript or HTML.
What are replies?
If a message begins with @username, meaning it was directed to another user, it is a reply. Click the Reply button on another person's Tweet to reply to it. Please note that if your Tweets are protected, users who are not following you will not see your replies or mentions. Read more here.
What are Direct Messages?
Direct Messages are private messages sent from one Twitter user to other Twitter users; they do not appear in public for anyone else to read. You can start a conversation with anyone who follows you. Read more here.
What is the difference between a reply and a Direct Message?
A reply is a public message sent regardless of follow-ship. Anyone can view it (if your Tweets are public). A Direct Message is a private message, and can only be seen by the sender and intended recipients.
Can I edit a Tweet once I've posted it?
No, you can’t edit a Tweet once you have posted it, but you can delete it. Read more here.
What's a Retweet?
A Retweet is a Tweet that you forward to your followers. Read more here.
Why can't I see all my Tweets? Are they lost?
We store all your Tweets. Navigate to your profile to view up to 3200 of your most recent Tweets in your profile timeline. To view more, you can download your Twitter Archive and browse a snapshot of your Twitter information, starting with your first Tweet.
How do I post a picture to Twitter?
Uploading and sharing images on twitter.com is easy! You can find step-by-step instructions and more FAQs here.
How do I report spam?
We have a whole article about how to report spam on Twitter. We encourage you to always block any spammers you find.
Why are accounts suspended?
Accounts are suspended for Terms of Service violations or spam investigation. Read more about this here.
Where can I find out more information about Twitter's Terms of Service?
Twitter's Terms of Service is posted on the website, and the Twitter Rules are posted in the Help Center.
How do I submit a complaint about copyright, impersonation, trademark, or other Terms of Service issues?
Review our Terms of Service section to find out what constitutes a violation, and how to go about fixing a related problem.
Having trouble?
Check out our troubleshooting section for solutions to common problems.