I heard it through the grapevine (Musings on value of Twitter)

The idea for March's blog was stimulated by 'Social media use for pathologists of all ages' (Further Reading). The article begins as follows:

Pathologists have shown an increasing acceptance of professional social media use in recent years. There are currently more than 4700 pathologists and pathology-related accounts on Twitter per an online list maintained by one of the authors.

Based on personal experience, my guess is that few medical laboratory technologists are on Twitter, especially those working in transfusion. Perhaps because it came after Facebook (founded 2004), Twitter (founded 2006) is a mystery to many. Find that sad but understand why. Blogged on Twitter before (Further Reading). 

Back in 1994 I founded a mailing list (MEDLAB-L),early social media. Delighted that many med lab technologists and physicians from all over the globe subscribed.  
Blog's title derives from 1966 ditty recorded by Marvin Gaye and later Creedence Clearwater Revival. 

UNDERSTANDING TWITTER
Signing up on Twitter is easy. Tidbits:

• Language: Twitter is the software platform. You are a tweep. When you post a message, it's a tweet. 

• If not on Twitter when accessing a tweet and asked to join, just click on another part of the screen and you can see direct tweets. 

• Be aware you don't need to tweet. Just as on earlier mailing lists, you can lurk.  

• By being on Twitter you can see the replies given by tweeps to other tweeps. If not, you can see only their direct tweets (not replies). 

• Twitter gives you quicker access to important professional events and issues, allows you to share resources with colleagues.  

• As a citizen Twitter is the place to be because you get news about anything well before it appears on mainstream media, e.g., disasters, latest weather, political events. All media and reporters are on Twitter.

• Twitter hashtags are key (Further Reading) For example, they can be used to identify who to follow. And you can also see who others follow for more suggestions.

As always, comments are most welcome.

FOR FUN
Chose this ditty because Twitter is a good grapevine,

• I Heard it Through The Grapevine (CCR)

• I Heard it through the Grapevine (Marvin Gaye, live at Montreux) 

FURTHER READING
Gardner JM, McKee PH. Social media use for pathologists of all ages. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2019 Mar;143(3):282-6.

Twitter hashtags | Transfusion hashtag

My Twitter accounts

• Transfusion: oldbloodbanker
• Politics: bogeywheels 
• Footie (soccer): eurofutball