In the face of a global pandemic where people nationwide are forced to stay at home and practice social distancing, we take great comfort in knowing that we can still stay connected with our friends and family via social media.
Twitter has come up with a few suggestions on how best to use its platform to not only stay well informed and connect with your loved ones, but to also spread positivity along the way!
Here are the different ways you can use Twitter as you #StayHome in Malaysia:
1. Join the latest trends right at home
While people may be physically isolated, they aren’t virtually. Partake in trends that connect you with your friends such as the # DontRushChallenge, that is named and set to the song “Don’t Rush” by Young T and Bugsey ft. Headie One.
The challenge not only highlights the solidarity in isolation but lets you and your friends play dress-up at home, showing your transformations from home attire to your glam going-out looks.
With Twitter’s reply function, you can easily add on your own permutations of the challenge in an ongoing thread - so people can easily keep track too!
2. Spread good vibes and positivity
In the spirit of 1 Malaysia, Malaysians are coming together to help one another with the hashtag #KitaJagaKita that shares heart-warming Tweets and stories about our brave frontliners and to spread positivity across the community.
For example, we have Malaysians showing their appreciation for delivery riders and healthcare workers by ordering extra meals or collecting contributions to buy them food. This showcased individual actions as a collective, rallying the community together.
People on Twitter can also get a few ideas on how to best to stay indoors through the hashtag #DudukRumahchallenge , where there are lots that will surely put a smile on your face.
3. Stay well informed via credible news portal
In addition to light-hearted and heartfelt content, Twitter has partnered with government agencies across Southeast Asia to provide timely and accurate updates on COVID-19 to the community.
Twitter has partnered with the Ministry of Health Malaysia (@KKMPutrajaya ) and the MyHEALTH Portal - the prompt points people to its official website of Covid-19 and MyHEALTH's official website of COVID-19
Not only that, but people on Twitter can also find real-time updates from verified sources. To access the page, simply go to the Explore tab on desktop or go to the top of the home timeline for mobile users.
Photo: Twitter
4. Find and share the best real-time information on COVID-19
Even in this difficult time of social distancing, online platforms are able to connect people and bring the community together.
Here’s how you can use Twitter more effectively during the pandemic:
- Apart from the COVID-19 event page and government agencies highlighted above, follow trusted sources by using the dedicated COVID-19 search prompt to access content from credible sources.
- Get updated with the latest information by turning on notifications from verified national and regional journalistic accounts.
- Tweet, Retweet and engage with content responsibly by verifying the source of your information. Do not misinform or be misinformed. #ThinkBeforeYouShare
- Make your Tweets relevant by using relevant hashtags (eg: #KitaJagaKita) in your Tweets to be able to join in the larger conversations on important issues.
- Protect your mental health by staying connected with your friends and family and customizing your twitter experience. Unfollow, block or mute accounts, mute accounts, words, conversations, phrases, usernames, emojis, or hashtags that you do not wish to engage with.
Most importantly, stay safe and #StayHome. Have you followed us on Twitter yet?
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
