Microblogging platform Twitter gives heads up about Cumbrian killer’s whereabouts

3 June 2010
by Sophie Goodwin
Tags: benefits of microblogging, Cumbrian Killings, hashtag, The Police, Twitter

A sign of the times:  It is encouraging to see Twitter was used to warn and update Cumbrian residents about the horrific killings and the whereabouts of Bird.  It is situations like these where the microblogging service really comes into its own –spreading short, informative messages like wildfire.

An article in today’s Telegraph reports on the Police’s use of Twitter in more detail, but in essence minute-by-minute updates were posted and re-tweeted across the platform, and the hashtags  #whitehaven and #cumbria were used to help people track the news.

It certainly provides a strong argument against those who view the platform as pointless and ‘only for hearing about people’s breakfast habits’!  We look forward to seeing how Twitter will used by the Police in the future, and can certainly see it playing a more prominent part in everyday life.