Minor point of modern communications

[TarnishedPenny]

Two young ladies, trying to keep in touch every day. Is there a verb for modern social media? One can write daily. One can telephone regularly. What does one do with social media? Sandra and Amber __________ daily on Twitter and Facebook.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Colloquially or in dialogue?

DM'd, as in "direct messaged."

I think in narrative you can just say messaged and that gets the point across.

 

[jaF0]

Interacted?

 

[SimonDoom]

I'd say "messaged." Messaging is a form of communication that exists on many different social media platforms. Everybody who uses these media knows what it is. Personally, I wouldn't use the word "direct" because I think it's unnecessary and just clutters up the sentence. But if you used "DM" I think that would be OK.

He messaged her.

He DM'ed her.

Merriam Webster recognizes "message" as a verb -- "to send a message to."

 

[lovecraft68]

Messaged I would think

 

[NotWise]

In the case of Twitter, wouldn't it be "tweeted?"

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Two young ladies, trying to keep in touch every day. Is there a verb for modern social media? One can write daily. One can telephone regularly. What does one do with social media? Sandra and Amber __________ daily on Twitter and Facebook.

Any insight would be appreciated.

"Connected"

 

[lovecraft68]

In the case of Twitter, wouldn't it be "tweeted?"

If you tweet to someone anyone following that person or you can see the conversation so if people carry on there its usually through direct messaging.

 

[SimonDoom]

In the case of Twitter, wouldn't it be "tweeted?"

No. A "tweet" is a generally visible message that one posts. It's not a communication to a particular person. Twitter has a direct messaging function, so "message" would be the right term for communication with one other person on Twitter.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok all have a messaging option, so I think that's the right term for a communication with another member.

 

[NotWise]

No. A "tweet" is a generally visible message that one posts. It's not a communication to a particular person. Twitter has a direct messaging function, so "message" would be the right term for communication with one other person on Twitter.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok all have a messaging option, so I think that's the right term for a communication with another member.

I didn't (and don't) understand Penny's question to mean private messages only.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Thanks, folks. You’ve given me the word I needed. Have a good night!

 

[Specula]

Two young ladies, trying to keep in touch every day. Is there a verb for modern social media? One can write daily. One can telephone regularly. What does one do with social media? Sandra and Amber __________ daily on Twitter and Facebook.

Any insight would be appreciated.

I would suggest, to fill the gap,

'Abused by social media'

 

[HeyAll]

If people communate on twitter, it would be "DM" for direct message. So they "dm'd' each other.

The same applies for facebook and instagram.

On the phone it would be 'texted.'


But in general 'messaged' works best.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I didn't (and don't) understand Penny's question to mean private messages only.

Yeah, but if you're using Twitter as a way to keep in regular contact with another specific person, DM is the normal way to do that. Public Twitter is where you put stuff you want to share with all your friends, and potentially any rando who wanders by; it's not a great place for one-on-one chats.

 

[KimGordon67]

Isn't that the right word for social media: 'Chat' or 'Chatting'? I think that's what they generally use around here.

I feel like 'chatting' ends to imply a more real-time interaction. Admittedly, I would use the same platforms to 'message' and 'chat' with people - the terms I'd use would tend to depend on the immediacy of the communication.

 

[jaF0]

I feel like 'chatting' ends to imply a more real-time interaction.

Hence:

Interacted?

Or:

"Connected"

 

[Bramblethorn]

"Talk" also works fine.

 

[yowser]

Isn't the past tense of 'tweet' 'twat'?

Twated?