Downloadable Tweets Now Available For Some Users

Twitter users will soon be able to download all of their tweets since the beginning of their account, with some already being able to do so.

The social platform has started distributing the ability to download tweets gradually to users. The downloaded tweets will come in the form of an archive that resembles a calendar.
People currently have access to a few thousand tweets that they have posted on Twitter but the ability to download all personal tweets is currently only available to a select group of users.
Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, had promised to make the ability to download tweets a reality by the end of the year.

Costolo said last month that: “By the end of the year I’ve already promised this, so the engineers – when I promised it publicly they’re already mad at me so they can keep being mad at me. Now, again, once again, I caveat this with the engineers who are actually doing the work don’t necessarily agree that they’ll be done by the end of the year.”

An Indian blogger, Navjot Singh is one of the first few users to be able to use the new feature and reveals that you can search through previous tweets month by month in the archive.
The blogger says that he found the option to download his past tweets by finding the button (shown below) in the settings page of his account.



Twitter has said that it is now testing the full archive of downloadable tweets with “a very small percentage” of users.

Can you access your Twitter archive yet? What do you make of this update?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

Does The Pope Tweet On The Web? Yes He Does!

His Holiness Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) today announced his presence on social media, with a tweet thanking his followers.

The Pope, who has eight different accounts for eight different languages which, together, have amassed over a million followers, sent his first tweet in Italian on an iPad.

Since his first tweet the pope has written four more, alternatively a question and then an answer. Both questions concern the power of faith: how Christians can better celebrate Jesus, and how faith can survive in “a world without hope”. Both answers focus on the power of faith in God and Jesus.

Many hoped that the Pope would use Twitter as a way to directly communicate with his followers. Some have even posted questions to @Pontifex, hoping for an answer. It seems, however, as though Twitter is more likely to be used as a pulpit from which the Pope can speak.

Apart from the first tweet, each tweet has been written and sent by one of his advisors, but, say the Vatican, with the Pope’s guidance. At this moment in time, the Vatican authorities are working out how best to utilise Twitter.



How do you think the Pope should use Twitter?

Pinterest Used To Catch Criminals

A local newspaper based in Pennsylvania has started using Pinterest as a site to post photos of criminals wanted by the police. This has incredibly lead to a 57% increase in arrests.
The Mercury newspaper is based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and also covers neighbouring towns. They have posted more than 75 pictures on the photo-sharing site of people who are wanted by the police.
Charges could relate to anything from theft and fraud to assault and the police received tips almost immediately from the public once the photos had been posted.

A police officer told the local radio station that: “we’ve actually seen a 57% increase in our warrant services, and we actually got more people based on our tips and our calls.”
"For us it's like, 'Yes,' because it's very enjoyable in police work when the public helps you."
It’s been said that some people even spotted pictures of themselves on Pinterest and handed themselves in to authorities, as well as removing themselves from the site.
The idea was constructed by a crime reporter at The Mercury who hoped that the social photo sharing platform could help spread awareness about crime in the area.
The newspaper was already active on Pinterest and uses 35 other boards in addition to the Wanted page. Other boards feature pictures from local proms and graduations of students, as well as landmarks for the area.

Do you think more social media platforms should be used to help the police?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below