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Twitter as a Private Diary: 5 Creative Ways

March 12, 2011
Twitter as a Private Diary: 5 Creative Ways

Utilizing Twitter as a Personal Diary

Twitter, primarily known as a social networking platform for communication and sharing ideas, can also serve as an effective tool for personal documentation. It allows users to record their daily activities and experiences.

However, it’s generally advised to avoid sharing mundane details, such as meals, with your public Twitter feed. A common guideline for Twitter usage is to refrain from tweeting about food consumption.

Private Microblogging with Twitter

Despite this, if you desire to monitor habits, track tasks, or simply record events, a service exists that enables you to leverage Twitter for this purpose, but with complete privacy.

The following are five methods for employing Twitter as a personal diary. These approaches involve utilizing Twitter or similar platforms to maintain a private microblog, preserving your thoughts and daily occurrences online for future reference.

Five Ways to Keep a Twitter Diary

  • Private Accounts: Setting your Twitter account to private restricts viewership to approved followers only.
  • Lists: Create a dedicated Twitter list and only add yourself as a member.
  • Third-Party Services: Several applications integrate with Twitter to offer private journaling features.
  • Alternative Microblogging Platforms: Explore platforms resembling Twitter but designed for personal use.
  • Direct Messages: Send tweets as direct messages to yourself.

These methods allow for the preservation of personal information without public exposure. They offer a convenient way to maintain a digital record of daily life.

By utilizing these strategies, Twitter can be transformed from a public forum into a secure and personal space for reflection and documentation.

Documenting Your Meals with Tweet What You Eat!

Tweet What You Eat! (TWYE) is a complimentary service designed to facilitate food journaling. It’s a useful tool whether you are following a specific diet, monitoring caloric intake, or simply aiming to understand your dietary patterns.

Creating a free account is straightforward. You can register directly or utilize your existing Facebook credentials for quick access.

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Following account creation, linking your TWYE account to your Twitter profile is necessary. This action also automatically initiates a follow of the official TWYE Twitter account.

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Upon logging in, you can begin recording your food consumption and weight. Each entry requires a description, calorie count, date, and time of consumption. An option to share the entry on Facebook is also provided.

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Weight entries include the date, time, weight measurement, and any accompanying notes. Although the system defaults to pounds, kilograms can be entered without issue.

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The integration with Twitter allows for on-the-go logging. Information can be sent to the TWYE Twitter account via Direct Message (DM). To include calorie information, use this specific format:

Slice of Pizza:240

As you consistently add entries to your log, TWYE automatically calculates daily caloric totals, average weight, and other relevant metrics.

While your entries aren't publicly visible on your Twitter profile, they are accessible to others on the TWYE platform, specifically within the "Recently Tweaten List".

Tracking Expenses with Tweet What You Spend

For individuals seeking a method to document their expenditures via Twitter, Tweet What You Spend (TWYS), developed by the creators of TWYE, offers a solution.

Account creation necessitates establishing a new user profile. Unlike TWYE, Facebook registration isn’t supported, which enhances user privacy.

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Following registration, linking your TWYS account to your existing Twitter profile is the subsequent step.

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With the accounts linked, you can begin monitoring your spending patterns through TWYS. Each entry requires details such as the date, time, a description of the item, and the total cost.

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Once an item is recorded, it can be categorized by dragging and dropping it into the appropriate section. The category list, located on the screen's left side, is fully customizable.

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TWYS also calculates and displays your average daily spending. Furthermore, your spending journal can be exported as a CSV file for external analysis.

Similar to TWYE, direct messages (DMs) can be utilized for expense logging, facilitating convenient on-the-go entries. TWYS provides a guide detailing the proper formatting for these entries.

Taxi 20 Transportation

For instance, to include the amount, description, and category, employ the following structure. Should TWYE or TWYS fail to automatically follow your account after registration, DM functionality will be unavailable. Simply notify them via Twitter, and the issue should be promptly addressed.

Tweet Private: Your Personal Online Journal

TweetPrivate offers a platform for maintaining a personal online diary, allowing you to document your experiences and reflections. A new account registration isn't necessary; the service integrates directly with your existing Twitter profile.

Effortless Integration

By connecting to your Twitter account, you gain immediate access to a secure space for personal journaling.

Secure Thought Storage

The platform enables the secure storage of private thoughts and ideas within your Tweet Private account.

Private Photo Uploads

Beyond text entries, you also have the capability to upload and store photos privately.

Mobile Accessibility

Tweet Private is accessible on mobile devices through its mobile site. This allows you to record your thoughts and feelings from any location.

Location Tracking and Historical Review

In addition to journaling, the service features an online map for check-ins. Your personal tweets can be easily browsed and revisited by date within your TweetPhoto account.

Current – A Private Microblogging Option

For those who prefer to maintain a distinction between their public Twitter presence and personal reflections, Current presents a compelling solution. This platform functions as a private microblog, adhering to the 140-character limit established by Twitter.

Creating a new Current account is a straightforward process. Users are prompted to provide a username, email address, a secure password, and their respective time zone.

Daily Entry Format

The core functionality of Current revolves around the concept of a single, concise diary entry permitted each day.

All recorded entries are showcased on the user’s personal homepage. Access to these entries is strictly limited to the individual account holder, ensuring complete privacy.

Maintaining a Private Twitter Presence

Establishing a private online presence on Twitter can be readily achieved by creating a separate, private account. Numerous third-party applications, available for both desktop and mobile devices, facilitate the management of multiple Twitter accounts simultaneously.

This approach allows individuals to maintain a personal microblog without compromising their primary Twitter profile’s visibility.

Utilizing Multiple Account Support

The availability of tools supporting multiple accounts simplifies the process of operating a private Twitter journal. Users can seamlessly switch between accounts, ensuring content remains segregated and accessible only to intended recipients.

This method offers a convenient solution for those seeking a discreet platform for personal reflections or updates.

Considerations for Private Journaling

The question arises: would Twitter serve as a suitable platform for a personal online journal? Its format lends itself to concise entries, mirroring the style of a traditional diary.

Do you have any recommendations or insights regarding the effective use of Twitter as a digital diary? Sharing experiences and best practices can benefit others exploring this approach.

Exploring Alternative Strategies

  • Consider carefully curating your follower list to include only trusted individuals.
  • Utilize Twitter’s privacy settings to restrict access to your tweets.
  • Employ a distinct username and profile picture to differentiate your private account.

These strategies, combined with a dedicated private account, can enhance the security and confidentiality of your Twitter journaling experience.

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