Be Picky About Who You Follow On Twitter & Facebook

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What a great time to live in, we can fellowship, pray for one another, share burdens or blessings, get laughs and valuable information in a few key strokes with Twitter or Facebook.

I prefer Twitter but the information is is applicable to Facebook too.

Twitter is incredibly useful for Christians and homeschooler networking. But to get the most out of Twitter it’s important that you follow those that are have similar interests.

It is not a number game. Months after joining Twitter I am still unfollowing people I should have not followed to begin with

Choose Quality not Quantity.

Why would a full quiver Christian homeschool mom want to follow a pro-choice liberal or a porn star? That’s what happens when you follow everyone that follows you. Don’t get me wrong. We can be a light to non-Christians but be careful.

Nothing wrong with putting a boat in the water
but you don’t want water in the boat.

How I Decide Who Do Follow

Before I follow someone I usually:

Search Twellow for those following me. Its quick to read profiles and click follow.
Reviewed their profile.
Browsed their most recent 20 tweets.
Clicked through to the website in the profile and browsed a few pages (I like this part a lot).

If the information makes me believe we have some thing in common I’ll follow them back.

I Don’t Follow Back If I see

unChristian behavior trend in Tweets (updates)
Buddah, Law of Attraction, New Age, channeling, etc. type quotes
any anti-Semitism, anti-Israel, or Replacement theology (I am a Zionist)
anyone without personal information in their profile.
scantly clad avatar
anyone posting foul language
anyone with no updates
anyone whose updates are all promotion
anyone consistently arguing
anyone that has not been active on Twitter for 30 days or more

Who I Block

Porn in your avatar
Porn in your Twitter background
Sexual pervert type profile (gay, etc)
Rude Pro-choice Advocates
Anyone pushing a cult

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Choosing Like-Minded Friends

I despise Tweets that say “Get 500 followers a day” WHY? To me that would be like opening the phone book and randomly calling someone to talk.

Why have a lot of people following you who really aren’t interested in what you are doing or what you have to say?

If you are busy reading information from someone you have nothing in common with you may be missing great Tweets.

Tools for Friend Finding on Twitter

There are many tools to help you find what Anne of Green Gables called “kindred spirits.”

TweeterTags can help you find people with the same interest. Once you’ve added your tags, you can click them to see who else uses them. Sample tags: Christian, homeschool, theology, Bible, etc.

Use Search.twitter.com to search for keywords to find people with similar interest. You can search profiles or Tweets.

Mr. Tweet is an automated system that recommends interesting people for you to follow, based on your own Twitter usage.

Twellow listed above is another good option to find kindred friends.

Twubble can help expand your Twitter bubble – it searches your friend graph and picks out people who you may like to follow.”

If you feel overwhelmed unfollow of some Twitters. Only follow those you feel you can interact with and learn from.

Christians Have a Responsibility to Choose Friends Wisely

God’s people are expected to be holy, different and separated from other peoples in order to belong to God as His very own. We are also expected to be witnesses to a lost world.

Don’t feel like you have to follow everyone who follows you and don’t follow everyone. Be a good steward of your time.

Many non-Christians follow me (I’m not sure why) and I am thrilled they see my Tweets encouraging verses and links to Bible studies. If I feel lead I will follow back. But I don’t follow back, for example, someone bent on arguing about evolution theories–I don’t have time for it. Maybe you are called to argue evolution theories. That’s not my calling.

God commands separation of the believer from the corrupt world system and from unholy compromise. (Mat 7:15; 1Co 5:9-11; 2 Th 3:6-15) and from false teachers, churches or cults that teach theological error and deny Biblical truths (Mat 7:15; Rom 16:17). But Jesus ate with sinners becasue He is THE Light.

We can be a light and not compromise.

It comes down to praying about who you follow. The Lord will lead.

Are You Waiting for Me to Follow You?

If you are following me and are waiting for me to follow you back just pop me a Direct Tweet or Tweet and I’ll checkout your profile and probably follow you right back (as long as you don’t fall into the ugly list above).

Robin Sampson

Popularity: 47% [?]

There Are 33 Responses So Far. »

Comment by Sarah Mae :

“Why would a full quiver Christian homeschool mom want to follow a pro-choice liberal?”

To be a light to a dying world.

I follow many people who are not Christian with the hope that I will give a little truth in their day…perhaps something I say will spark an interest for them to visit my blog…get to know me…see something…

I suppose it depends on why you Twitter…in everything I do I want to reach out to the lost.
Comment by Dianna @ Sincerely Me :

I also noticed that there are times when I follow people because I believe I will keep up with them and then later realize that I never even communicate with them so its a waste of time for me. So I go through my followers periodically and unfollow the ones I don’t even communicate with.
Comment by Michelle :

Bad company can corrupt good morals ~ we should shine our light and let God bring them to us.

Great post, Robin. I need to evaluate this with blogs that I follow. Most are homeschool related and I learn a lot from them ~ but only a few are TO – how do you feel about that? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Comment by Kathryn Lang :

Hey Robin – I’ve been wondering about this since I first logged on to Twitter. I feel bad not immediately following someone when they follow me but at the same time I want to know that the information they send out will be helpful in some form or fashion to my life.

Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone in my un-following ways.
Comment by tekhelet :

Haha Robin, sometimes people end up unfollowing me because I tweet a lot on scripture and Yeshua.
Comment by David Cook :

Great advice Robin. I feel the same but would make a couple more points.

* I don’t follow people whose posts consist of a lot of fluff. Time is valuable, so I only want to read posts that will add value to my life.

* I block almost anyone selling their products and services.

* I also have the disadvantage of having the same name as someone famous. As a result, a number of his fans follow me and every other David Cook on Twitter. I’ve debated about whether to block those people too but so far have allowed them to remain followers.

Although I don’t follow you on Twitter, I occasionally check in to view your posts and blog. Keep up the good work.

Shalom.

David
Comment by Karen ~Georgia Angel :

I agree wholeheartedly with your follow/unfollow beliefs. I wrote a very detailed post about this not too long ago http://www.ageorgiaangel.com/blog/?p=862. I think it’s important to be very particular about who you follow AND who follows you. I am always inspired by your tweets. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Tammy Lessick :

Thanks for the list of tools. I have been really frustrated with people following me that are porn related. I have been blocking people left and right all week. Sometimes I ask my self if I should just stop using Twitter. Then I exchange helpful and supporting tweets from another mom that is raising an autistic child like I am.
Comment by HisFireFly :

Thanks for all the info! Yes, we should be salt and light, but we also need to keep obscentity, porn and vast darkness away from the places we are drawing people to.

I’m going to check on Twellow now
Comment by Paul B. :

Robin, some really great info here. Your blog is very helpful. Thanks much!

p.
Comment by Penny Schultz :

I appreciate these words. I frequently find myself running through my follower list to be sure I’ve blocked any who I find offensive. Thanks. I’ve linked your words to my friends on Facebook.
Comment by Lori :

Thanks for the quick and pertinent read. I do enjoy your tweets and posts. I too have followed incorrectly…and it does take time to do due diligence to unfollow and follow the right people. Glad I found one of them with you, Robin. Have a blessed weekend.
Comment by Alanna :

Ah, thank you for posting this, it is valuable advice to a new Twitterer like me. I have been fairly sensible in my approach to following, as I only follow those whose tweets do interest me. I must admit, however, that I have not been as thorough in checking people out as you are. Glad I haven’t followed very many yet.

The only ones I have so far regretted following have actually been based, not on the content of their tweets, but on the frequency. They are overwhelming my other tweets! Alas, practicality must prevail… I can’t keep up with them all. >_< I honestly don’t know how anyone can follow hundreds/thousands of people. x_X

Anyway, some very wise words here; I appreciate them greatly. Good thing I already chose to follow you, eh?

Mayhap you would be interested in following me… or not. Your choice, of course. I shall send you a message, so you can decide for yourself.

As a side note: I don’t know if you’ve posted on this subject before or not, but if not, could I suggest an entry on good Twitterquette? Especially in the area of posting in a sensible manner that doesn’t overwhelm your followers’ tweets. I’m sure I’m not the first to unfollow because of this kind of problem. Moderation is key!

And I appreciate you for being sensible with your own tweets.
Comment by Shannon :

Thanks so much for this. I agree with Most of what you said and wish others would take these things into consideration.

I have a question:

Do you stop following people who tweet about getting 500 followers a day?
Comment by admin :

Shannon,

>>Do you stop following people who tweet about getting 500 followers a day?<<

If they are brand new I don’t unfollow. Everybody fall for this at first. But if I see it a few times I do- depends on the profile.

I just blocked and reported as spam someone who tweeted me to check out a dating service- my profile says I’m married.
Comment by Kelly Cline :

I was sadly disappointed with the apparantly porn related followed me. I asked myself should I let them follow me, in hopes of shedding some light into their world. I then decided I didn’t want to be associated with this in any way. Thanks for the info.
Comment by @EllaJo08 :

I don’t follow everyone by any means. I do request that if you WANT a follow back, you have to tweet @me. If you’re not going to converse with me, I’m not interested, with a few exceptions.

And I have no idea why I’m not plagued by porn accounts. I’ve only come across two.

And thank you for your tweets and your blog posts!
Comment by Mark :

I allow folks who are not believers to follow me so that they are exposed to my Tweets about Christ.

If ALL of my followers are fellow believers it’s kinda hard to witness to anyone.

If there is obvious profanity, etc. I block.

It’s great to have the Oprah New Agers follow me – who knows, they may get exposed to the Light:)
Comment by BigPhatPastor :

Well said and well done. Many newcomers to twitter are turned away because they don’t have a basic safe tweeting guideline such as you posted here. No matter whether a person wants to follow and be followed by strictly Christians or both Christians and non-Christians you have given some safe basic guidelines. Thanks
Comment by Jacque Dixon :

I feel the same way. I won’t follow someone whose language is bad or who pushes sinful thoughts, because it is a proven fact that garbage in-garbage out.
I won’t unfollow just because someone is not a Believer. I don’t think that is what you are talking about.
We have to realize that those 140 little characters can become something that should not constantly going into our hearts. Of course I want to be a light in the world, but not at the expense of what goes into my spirit. I have to guard that.

After all, as a man thinks, so is he…

Thanks for all the great links to check this all out.
blessings~
Comment by Gail :

What a great article! After taking a two year sabbatical from blogging after my mother’s passing, I have been working on getting back into blogging. Twitter seems to be the place to connect wtih other like-minded bloggers and it has been on my mind a lot lately. Your suggestions are excellent and are actually a great comfort to me.

My favorite link you provided was to Twubble. I can’t tell you how often I’ve felt like a stalker checking through my friends’ followers for friends on Twitter. Twubble really weeds through things and lets you see who you might actually know or at least want to get to know.

Thanks for a wonderful, timely article!
Gail´s last blog ..Pay no attention to that (wo)man behind the curtain!
Comment by Gail :

Oh, and that’s another thing, if you don’t block pornographic followers, people who respect you and your judgement might stumble across some inappropriate photos, etc. when they look through your followers hoping to find some like-minded friends. We don’t want to create a stumbling block for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the name of being a light to the world. We are supposed to consider our brothers and sisters in Christ first.
Gail´s last blog ..Pay no attention to that (wo)man behind the curtain!
Comment by Christin :

Aweseom tips. Thank you for sharing. I find that I do feel obligated to follow people because they are following me. *blush*. But you’re right…it’s a choice, in both directions.

I think it’s important to think about time and relationship in some aspect. There is no way I could keep up with tons of people. It’s no different then high school, is it? Popularity isn’t in numbers – it’s in relationship with who we are surrounded by. We can’t be in relationship with hundreds or thousands of people equally. However, Twitter can be used as a tool for more than that as well. Again, like you already stated, just because someone has begun following, doesn’t mean we are obligated to follow back. I like that.
Christin´s last blog ..Blog Tour, part 2
Comment by Alana :

I just the other day mentioned to a friend that Twitter is a tool. I use it to encourage others. I follow, (ahem) THE David Cook, as well as many other people because I am a prayer warrior and what they tweet often shows me ways to pray for them. I have had a couple of people follow me that I have actually encouraged to start thinking about living for God, just by my Christian “twitterwalk”. I have mentioned to one that, in order for me to continue to follow her, we need to be encouraging to each other.
I have stopped following certain people because of vulgar, unwholesome words/thoughts/pictures that I don’t want in my mind. Yet, God does remind me to pray for these people through other means on occasion.
Also, for people following me, I have received much porn and highly doubt those trying to sell it are going to see our light via twitter. They want us to go to websites, it appears. I just have to pray for them as I block them.
Blessings!
<
Comment by Alana :

My name Is Alana as well, and i just felt convicted to share with you that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and i am a living proof of God and his ability to perform miracles. At the age of 23 I have been through addiction, jail time, and many other destructive valleys, but God has chosen for me to be one His servants(Isa.43:10) and by his unfathomable grace pulled me out and has “bestowed a crown of beauty in replacement of my ashes”(isa.61:3) I just have never met another Alana and much less another sister in Christ with the same name, and I felt God told me to respond!
by His Grace,
Alana-+
Trackback by brandycormier :

RT @heartofwisdom: Use Twitter wisely! Do NOT follow to be followed. Ugg Choose Quality not Quantity. http://bit.ly/12Uf1C [AMEN!!]
Trackback by B.R. :

RT @heartofwisdom: Use Twitter wisely! Do NOT follow to be followed. Ugg Choose Quality not Quantity. http://bit.ly/12Uf1C <<Amen to that!
Trackback by Alaina Frederick :

Wow amazing list! RT @heartofwisdom: Following Back is an Option: Be Picky About Who You Follow On Twitter http://bit.ly/12Uf1C
Trackback by Kimarie :

Excellent post – thanks! RT @heartofwisdom: Be Picky About Who You Follow On Twitter Don't follow to be Follwed! #FF http://bit.ly/12Uf1C
Trackback by sunflowerfaith :

RT @heartofwisdom: Be Picky About Who You Follow This is not a numbers game. Following back is OPTIONAL #FF http://ow.ly/NqzU
Trackback by Shayne Packer :

RT @heartofwisdom Be Picky About Who You Follow. This is not a numbers game. Following back is OPTIONAL http://ow.ly/NqzU
Trackback by TCHomeschooler :

RT @heartofwisdom: Be Picky About Who You Follow This is not a numbers game. Following back is OPTIONAL #FF http://ow.ly/NqzU
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