Twitter under attack

The above image shows why we could not access Micro-blogging platform Twitter for the past few hours. Already I felt like I had withdrawal symptoms as FaceBook was not giving the same pleasure as Twitter. Indicating how my preference for platforms have shifted.

Twitter Translator: "Twinslator"

With the number of Twitter users increasing it is no surprise that more translator applications are becoming popular. One such application is the Twinslator which allows you to translate your tweet into another language. It is powered by Google Translate and then allow you to either post both messages or just the translated message. A pity about having to enter twitter details each time you want to do a translation. Does prove to be a bit tedious but simple enough to use.

The Power of Social Media

There are many people doing amazing work around the world through the use of social media. A few minutes ago I saw another example of how through the use of social media an audience that would generally take a long time to reach or be expensive to mobilise can be reached within minutes at almost no cost.

An hour ago a call for support was sent out to distribute a message that a young girl went missing (See image above). How could you reach more than 4 million people within minutes at very low cost? The answer is the Kutcher-Effect on twitter. Asking Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore to Retweet your message on twitter who has more than 4 million followers combined.





Within minutes the message was sent throughout the world (I am included in that list) possibly on every continent for the twitter community to look for this young girl (3 minutes after the tweet Ashton tweeted the message - see below).



Forty minutes later the millions who were reached were informed that the young girl is safe and sound.



This shows the power of social media and just one of those ways again how it can be used for good. How are you using the power that you have at your fingertips?

Social Media is a great leveler

Over the past few weeks I have seen the power of Social Media and how it is a great leveler in a society where status and many other factors separates communities. Through our Reconstructed and Mom2.0 project we saw people embracing life through the use of Social Media where they share stories, give messages of hope and do not feel inadequate when connecting with people across the world.

Through the use of Social Media people who before might have felt disjoint from communities are now able to use this medium as a way to improve communication and writing skills, regain confidence and above all feel that they are part of a global conversation where their voices are heard irrespective of their background, status, race, culture or whatever else generally would bring about discrimination or separation. Social Media in my opinion is a great leveler and we are seeing the fruits of it in the conversations that are floating around and the real impact its having in the lives of people.

Twitter Moms

Our mothers part of the Mom 2.0 project being exposed to micro-blogging twitter and interesting to see how they engage with one another using this technology.

Twitter School

Today the Reconstructed Trainers had a session with the Mom 2.0 ladies teaching them mroe about the micro-blogging tool Twitter. The ladies really impressed me how they embraced the technology and by the end of the day they already had more than 500 tweets amongst them combined. Not bad for a first day of Twitter School.


Be sure to find out more about these women who are using twitter as a way to reach out to other women and mothers in need. This is a first for these women who a few months ago had never even touched a computer but today they are using Social Media for Social Change.

Twitter integration into our Advice Support Network

As we continually try and serve more with our Advice Support Network we've now integrated Twitter into our system providing our support services to users on this micro-blogging platform. To add us via twitter for Drug Advice Support (DAS) follow @advicesupport and Debt Breaker follow @DebtBreakerZa.

We are excited to offer these services to our Twitter users.

How much will a tweet cost you from your Mobile?

Well this post is a short test to see the cost of tweeting from a Mobile phone using some of the technologies I've got on my Nokia N81. The reason for this little experiment was specifically aimed at communities where cost is an issue or barrier to access or share information.

Cost for a single tweet per technology on my mobile:

m.twitter.com - zaR0.04 (Your personal and friends' tweets, @replies, Your Profile, People you follow, Public timeline, Drawbacks: No direct messaging possible, No Retweeting)

m.slandr.net - zaR0.07 (Your and friends' tweets (with some pics too), replies, directs, search, public timeline, Retweet, pic and tweet, geo friends (location based)

Fring - zaR0.05 (your personal and friends' tweets, takes long to load sometimes)

MXit(using Spoink setup) - zaR0.01 (One way tweeting at the moment, Only pushing messages nothing else)


Well now that you have the costs and some of the functionalities of the technologies you know which tool will be best for you. Personally I prefer m.slander.net let me know whats your choice or if there are any other tools you are using that we could add to this list. Happy Mobile Tweeting:-)

Changing the World One Tweet at a Time

With the rise of Twitter in the world of Web2.0 it has been interesting to see how people have used this Micro-blogging social tool. Being used from conversations to reporting, marketing to publishing and generating traffic to you website, to just share information with your network. With the Reconstructed we've decided to use Twitter as a means of reconstructing ex-drug addicts and ex-gang members.

The young men and women were exposed to twitter and given the right to use it in a way they feel would benefit them best. They began using twitter for conversations with one another, sharing positive stories with one another, encouraging each other and to share information relevant to substance abuse and their communities. They also used it for reporting in order for others following them to keep track of how they are feeling or what they busy doing. Twitter has become part of their support structure and being used to leave positive footprints in the world. Not only is Twitter being used to support themselves but they also using it to reach out to other Tweeple who needs to hear a Tweet of hope. They are really changing the World one Tweet at a time...

A week of Tweets and FriendFeeds

The past week we've seen an increased use by our reconstructed team using twitter. In one week we've seen between the group almost 3000 tweets!!! Not only have they caught on the micro-blogging phenomenon but also had the privilege of sitting in a session last Saturday on FriendFeed presented by Johan Horak.

The session was how Friendfeed can be used and integrated to enhance what is already done by the Reconstructed Team. Definitely exciting opportunities lying ahead for us.

Tweetrepreneur: Emergence of the Twitter Entrepreneur

Seeing the advancement of micro-blogging and the expansive use of twitter it is no surprise that we see more twitter tools being developed supporting this phenomenon. Is it possible that people would be interested in what you're actually doing? At first this might sound insane but when you begin the journey of posting your first tweet, it is as if new doors open to express yourself, to stay in touch and to just listen what others are saying.

What struck me is that not only is Twitter used for social marketing, informing clients, social conversations but quite possible we could see the emergence of the Tweetrepreneur (Twitter Entrepreneur). Where this could lead to is yet to be seen as we explore possibilities of how this media could change the lives of people.

Why don't you try twitter for yourself and follow me

Micro-blogging and more

This morning we continued with our workshops and started with Micro-blogging and how we can use this to empower Communities in Tension. We also welcomed 4 new members to the program. A special welcome to Jason, Gary, Dayle and Ricardo (Picture on The Reconstructed). We looking forward to see how through the empowerment of Technology you will use it to help your communities. Today the guys were taught how they could use twitter as a means to keep others updated about what the are doing. It was exciting to see how the reconstructed team will use this technology as a means to encourage one another and as a means for counselling. We also getting ready for the Mom 2.0 project which we will launch Monday and the initiave where many of the reconstructed team will be assisting and facilitating. Definitely exciting times...