Twitter

Purdue University students are testing new software that may track and warn about tornadoes, such as this one which struck Rochelle, Ill., in early April.

Social Media Can Help Track Tornadoes, But Was That Tweet Real?

7:49am April 20, 2015

by Stan Jastrzebski

Researchers at Purdue are using software to mine tweets for data that can help warn that a dangerous storm is approaching. But the data may not always be reliable and analyzing it can be tricky.

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Some colleges and police departments are starting to use software that scans social media to identify local threats, but most tips still come from members of the public.

National

Awash In Social Media, Cops Still Need The Public To Detect Threats

1:47pm February 26, 2015

by Martin Kaste

It's hard to know when to take violent language seriously online. But when Jonathan Hutson saw an anonymous threat to an unnamed school on Twitter, he couldn't let it go.

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Friday, DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings reminded sports journalist Clay Travis that his five-year guarantee — that Cousins would be arrested — had expired.

NBA Player Flouts A Critic's Guarantee That He Would Be Arrested

5:00pm January 30, 2015

by Bill Chappell

In 2010, sportswriter Clay Travis said in a tweet, "There is a 100% chance that DeMarcus Cousins is arrested for something in the next five years."

Panelist Nahshon Ellerbe, a star running back at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, warms up before a game against Midland Christian.

Sports

What Would You Change About Football?

1:29pm January 22, 2015

by NPR Staff

Football is the most watched sport in America — and increasingly, one of the most controversial. If you were the NFL commissioner, what one thing about the sport would you change?

Actor James Franco (left), seen here with The Interview co-star Seth Rogen, was called "James Flacco" by President Obama Friday. Afterward, the jokes poured in.

Politics & Government

Obama Says 'James Flacco.' The Internet Says, Thank You

5:49pm December 19, 2014

by Bill Chappell

It was an honest mistake. But when President Obama said "James Flacco" when referring to James Franco — on a Friday before the holidays, no less — the slip was eagerly received online.

Instagram topped Twitter in active users in its latest count.

Tech Week: Instagram Vs. Twitter And Europe Vs. Google

5:18am December 13, 2014

by Elise Hu

Instagram beat Twitter on a key metric, but Twitter's co-founder says he doesn't care. And Google's woes in Europe continued as the tech giant shut down Google News in Spain over a new law there.

An image from a Twitter video shows how a user would report harassment under a new process announced Tuesday.

Twitter Targets Trolls With New Rules On Abuse

8:48pm December 02, 2014

by Bill Chappell

One woman who has experienced abuse on Twitter calls the change "a big step up," as the company changes how it handles harassment and the ability to block other users.

Amateur cook and writer Maureen Evans has perfected the art of tweeting a recipe in 140 characters or less.

Books

Tweet In The Holiday With Recipes On Twitter

4:54pm November 17, 2014

by NPR Staff

Test your ability to tweet a recipe in 140 characters or less. Amateur cook and writer Maureen Evans tells us how she manages to do that, and breaks down her code in her Twitter cookbook, Eat Tweet.

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Apps working with Digits, a new Twitter service, would simply ask for your phone number instead of a password.

Moving Past The Password, But At What Cost?

8:10pm November 14, 2014

by Charles Pulliam-Moore

Apps working with a new Twitter service would simply ask for your phone number instead of a password. In exchange, the company would get some of the most valuable information about you.

The media is all over this story: Ebola in NYC! Don Weiss, a doctor with the New York City Health Department, faces microphones outside the bowling alley visited by the physician who tested positive for the virus.

When You've Seen Subway Rats, Ebola Seems Like Nothin'

4:06pm October 24, 2014

by Eleanor Klibanoff

New York has no time for fear-mongering and wild speculation about the spread of disease through their city. They're too busy crafting the perfect "Ebowla" joke for Twitter.