Twitter is a free information network made up of 140-character messages called Tweets.
On Twitter you can: 
Create your Twitter account, then try searching for @BeckettResearch and @BeckettLibrary to find relevant accounts to follow.
There is a wide range of support and guidance available online. Try this Getting Started With Twitter guide, doing a search on Google or contact us for one-on-one or group training.
Research social networks allow academics across disciplines to connect and promote their research. However, you may be asked to upload your research, which may break publisher copyright.
To ensure that you do not break copyright and are eligible for the REF, you should upload your research to the institutional repository. You can then link to your repository record in your social media profiles.
Academia.edu is a for-profit social platform for academics from all subject areas to share research papers, monitor analytics around the impact of their research, and track the research of academics they follow.
ResearchGate is an academic social network, aimed primarily at the sciences, which allows users to create a profile, ask questions and share their research.
Zotero is a free tool that collects all your research in a single, searchable interface using an extension in your web browser.
Mendeley is a free reference manager and an academic social network, which allows users to manage and showcase their research and connect with colleagues around the world.
There are many other social media platforms that you may consider using:
Facebook - a for-profit social networking website where registered users create profiles, send messages and post a variety of media.
Linkedin - a professional (rather than social) network, where users create professional profiles to build a CV and connect with colleagues.
Instagram - an online photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service, primarily mobile-app based.
Flickr - a photo-sharing and hosting service
Snapchat - a free mobile-app that allows users to send photos and drawings that the receiver can only view for a limited time.
Storify - a social network that lets users create stories or timelines using social media such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
You might also consider blogging - or vlogging (video blogging!) - to discuss and disseminate your research. A blog (also called a weblog or web log) is a website consisting of regular posts that may include comments, multimedia and links.Think of your blog as a personal website - it can be as formal/informal as you like - that you can promote using the other social media tools on this page.
Blogger - a free tool for creating blogs using your Google account
Wordpress - a free and open-source blogging and website creation tool
Tumblr - a cross between a social network and a blog, where users share media using a micro-blog format.
A selection of information on the importance of social media for researchers and some useful tips.
Leeds Beckett staff social media policy
LSE blog post on the importance of social media for researchers
Social media for researchers - slides by Professor Mark Reed
The impact of social media on the dissemination of research - article by Melissa Terras
Social media for scientists - detailed blog post and slides by Dr Paige Jarreau
An academic's life on social media - prezi by Professor Andy Miah
A-Z of social media/website tools - article by Professor Andy Miah
List of Leeds Beckett researchers on Twitter
Blog by Dr James Woodall, a Reader and Head of Subject at Leeds Beckett.
Blogging to publicise research - prezi by Ned Potter
