How to succeed on Twitter without really trying

Some tips and advice that you are definitely not expecting.

We’ve all heard the complaints about Twitter. It’s full of haters, racists, bigots, bots, disinformation, fake news, hate speech, dumb memes and cat photos.

Or, it’s a tool for cancel culture, social justice warriors, public shaming and Twitter mobs who attack and destroy anyone who is perceived to have made a mistake, even as teenagers.

Or, it’s too small compared with Facebook. The people I know don’t use it. It’s a ghost town. It’s a waste of time.

Or, it’s impossible to get a large following. And you can’t get verified anymore.

Or, it’s dominated by phony influencers, self-appointed “experts,” and annoying journalists.

That’s where I come in.

I’m here to tell you that the only thing that’s really bad about Twitter is that it’s a powerful drug that causes delusions.

To succeed on Twitter, in my opinion, is to profit from its many benefits without being sidetracked by its many delusions.

The benefits on Twitter come from the ability to engage with and learn from a highly diverse group of people from all over the world who may share your interests and also want to learn from you and your experiences. It’s also a great place to network, professionally.

The delusions of Twitter are that you have to be exposed to horrible people, that a Twitter mob actually constitutes “everybody” — or even a relevant fraction of the world at large — that you will ever encounter more than 1% of the people on any major social network, that blocking people is an aggressive act that you commit against other people and that your tweets can “make a difference” and change the thinking of others.

So here’s how to succeed on Twitter without really trying

1. Fix your definition of success. Don’t try to be an “influencer.” Intend, instead, to engage, challenge yourself and learn.

2. Block like it’s a bodily function. It’s not an aggressive or impolite act to block someone. It’s just a necessity that makes Twitter worth using. Your mileage may vary, but I block haters, disrespectful people, trolls, bots, religious fanatics, cult members, conspiracy theorists, people who want to shame others for not agreeing with their obsessions and any number of other people. Remember this: You will NEVER encounter more than 1% of the people on Twitter. Blocking is how you make sure that the accounts that would ruin Twitter are relegated to the 99% you will never again encounter.

3. Create a temperamental filter bubble. Eli Pariser’s “Filter Bubble” idea is that social media algorithms tend to expose you to like-minded people and exclude people who might challenge your views. Instead, deliberately create a temperamental filter bubble, which means follow and engage with people who may or may not share your opinions, but definitely share your idea of what good conversation is all about.

4. Create an Overton window. If there are topics you don’t want to talk about — for example, because it seems like everywhere you go that’s all anyone wants to talk about. It doesn’t matter what your criteria are. If you don’t want to hear or talk about it, then use Twitters tools to exit. In a Twitter threat, click or tap the “more” icon, then click or tap “Mute this conversation.” If any tweet contains word that represents a topic you don’t want to hear about again — say, the name of a certain politician or reality TV show — select the word or words, then tap on “Mute” on the right. (This is the most under-appreciated Twitter feature ever.) An additional dialog will come up where you can choose where it’s muted, and for how long.

5. Use Tweetdeck. Twitter owns a service called Tweetdeck, which is an alternative interface for Twitter where you can follow many streams at once. Best of all, it’s one of the few places where you can have a running stream of tweets that auto-updates.

6. Make a VIP list. Create at least one list of the very best people you follow, and engage more heavily on that list. Thoughtful mutual engagement over time results in actual friendships, the forming of which is its own reward.

7. Follow engagers, not celebrities (unless the celebrities are also engagers). Here’s a big one. Instead of following celebrities and big-name influencers, look for the people who engage thoughtfully and intelligently on the topics you care about and follow them. Aim for quality conversation.

8. Don’t try to minimize the number of accounts you follow out of ego. You’ve see the influencers who have a million people following them but themselves are following 12 people. It’s a flex. It’s saying to the world: You all listen to me and I won’t listen to you because I’m me. Forget all that. Follow the people who enrich your life in some way regardless of how many that adds up to.

9. Don’t try to change the world. Twitter instills in us the illusion that we’re making a difference, changing public opinion and moving the opinion needle. That’s why so many people obsess over politics on Twitter. The social network makes us feel like we’re changing minds. Say whatever you want to say. But try not to get caught in the trap that you have to keep driving a point of view. You don’t. Use Twitter for you, not for “them.”

10. Never take anything personally. Twitter also sets us up for a dynamic where people tweet things at us that feels like a public slap in the face. Don’t take anything personally. Just block and move on.

All these tips for how to succeed on Twitter work their magic when you apply them over the months and years. It’s a long term project. But after some time, you’ll have brilliant conversations, learn a ton, make friends and never have to deal with trolls, haters or anyone else who might ruin Twitter for you.

Remember: There is no “Twitter.” There is only YOUR Twitter. So make Twitter truly yours.