Why tweet responsibly? Bad information damages your reputation. False rumours can needlessly hurt or scare people, or waste their time. Here are some tips to help you use Twitter and other social networks responsibly.
Have you checked it’s true? Are other people saying similar? Has it come from a reliable source? Is it a joke masquerading as real information? Is it a spoof account? Check the account’s profile if you’re not sure.
Got breaking news? Quoting a stat? People will trust you if you quote a source or include a link.
Not sure? Ask the original poster for a source or more information. Take care with photographs: they may be doctored and might not be what they claim.
If you know that something’s wrong, get the truth out! If you make a mistake, correct it, and ask other people to stop retweeting it. Mistakes happen: but you can help others with a quick correction.
Follow known journalists. For the UK, Media UK lists twitter names for radio stations, tv channels, newspapers and magazines, and the people who work in them. Many police departments and councils have twitter feeds too.