Thought the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) was all about the “closer” of Twitter? Think again. Everyone’s favourite firebrands have snuck on to the social network they spent so much time despising just last year, and are cultivating their very own Twitter presence under the name @ANCYLHQ.
The controversial league has had an official twitter account since October 2010, but, until now, has seldom used it. In the last few days, however, it seems to have gotten increasingly vocal, which is par for the course for the “young lions”.
The ANCYL is not the only newsmaker trying to get to grips with social networking — controversial businessman Atul Gupta has tried his hand at talking directly to people via Twitter, while Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba is the first government minister to take to the medium, complete with personal asides about his life and enough slang to rival a teenager on MXit.
However, our newsmakers have missed a beat or two. Clearly their advisers aren’t very well-versed in Twetiquette.
So, in the spirit of comradeship, we offer them this guide to using Twitter.
Capitals
The ANCYL was clearly very excited about the Cabinet reshuffle last year. It tweeted on October 31: “ANC YOUTH LEAGUE CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ON CABINET RESHUFFLE AND APPOINTMENT OF FORMER ANC YOUTH LEAGUE PRESIDENTS AS MINISTERS.”
But here’s the thing: on the internet, TYPING EVERYTHING IN CAPITALS implies SHOUTING. Now, we know you like shouting, your press releases are shouted too. But when you only have 140 characters to play with, we suggest you try more subtlety. We’re not demanding short-form poetry. Just be sensible.
Listen to the people
In a shock move for the league, it later acknowledged its mistake. It tweeted on March 8 2011: “Not anymore,” in response to @thecreativepot who asked: “Why does @ancylhq write a lot of their tweets in ALL CAPS? I’m beginning to suspect my dad is behind that …”
Responding to your audience? That’s fantastic. Maybe you should promote the lackey doing your tweet work to official spokesperson. You’d win a lot more friends.
Beware sarcasm
It’s a rookie mistake. Someone mocks you from behind a parody profile. You take them seriously and fall over yourself thanking them. People laugh at you. It’s okay, we’ve all been there. There are snakes in the revolutionary grass and, unlike with shouting, there is no acceptable way of pointing out sarcasm. Atul Gupta may be terrifically powerful IRL (that’s “in real life” in case you were wondering) but he missed that @Julius_S_Malema was not the real Juju and was probably taking the piss when he said: “My call to black men to reproduce or have babies because it is a revolutionary thing was ALSO taken out of context.” So Gupta replying: “I am fully agreed,” was a tad off kilter.
In fact, if someone seems unusually excited to have you follow him or her, ask yourself how plausible that is before enthusiastically thanking them for their support.
And don’t think that everyone who follows you is waiting to be inspired by your rhetoric. Charlie Sheen, a man who has made no sense for the past week, was followed by two million people in two days, because people wanted to hear him say something stupid. Think about that for a bit.
And, while you’re thinking about that …
You need more followers. Look at Sheen. Come on, you know how it’s done.
Say it like you mean it
Malusi, we love that you dig Twitter so much you’ve sounded off about everything from soccer to alcohol to Justin Bieber. But when you’re sitting in a Very Important Parliamentary briefing and fiddling with your tie with no phone in sight while your account gets updated, it makes us feel slightly cheated. And no, you can’t send us flowers on your department’s expense account, like you did with your wife that time to make it all better. A few may think you have the power to manipulate the Twitterverse using only your mind, but most are going to think there’s something fishy going on. It’s you we want, not your spokesperson.
Keep your enemies close, and the naughty media closer
Back to the ANCYL — it’s nice to see that, despite the fact that you are only following 52 people, that list includes @nicdawes, @mandyroussouw and @ferialhaffejee. It’s a good start, and a handy way to know what people are up to, if they are indiscreet enough to share details of their meetings and dealings in public. (We’re looking at you, Atul Gupta. It’s called DM and Business Day editor Peter Bruce would have been just as happy to set up that meeting in private). You may want to keep an eye Helen Zille and co too.
And before you even ask …
No. Twitter will not be nationalised