Twitter is one of the biggest social media sites there is. According to the numbers from Statistic Brain, there are 554,750,000 active registered Twitter users, with 135,000 new Twitter users everyday.

Twitter can be a great marketing and communication tool but it can also be a way to stir up trouble.  In my 3 years of high school I’ve encountered at least 10 fake Twitter accounts. People make fake accounts with fake names to publicly humiliate other people and I’ve had my fair share of Twitter fame/shame by fake accounts.

Honestly it’s pathetic as people should have the guts to say something to someone’s face.  I laugh at people who have to hide behind a computer screen. Say it to my face or don’t say it at all. Write me a handwritten letter, write me a poem about how much you don’t like me, I’d enjoy that. It would be better than trying to make up a cheesy middle school diss.

Those anonymous accounts have one purpose: to start drama, stir up thoughts and question the facts. It might be funny to the person who is behind the account. But once they slip up and lose their cover it’s over, and the person will get looked at differently, at least that’s what has happened in the past.

A new study, published by the Pew Research Center reveals that 8 percent of Americans get their news on Twitter. Many people get their information from social media, but it might not always be accurate as some people are going to believe whatever they hear.

From my personal experience, the best way to handle these fake accounts is too ignore them. DO NOT try and reply back or anything. Yes they have the upper hand. Their identity is hidden. Yours isn’t. Just let it go.

If I didn’t have people I needed to keep an eye on (i.e., stalk), I wouldn’t have a Twitter account. It’s great for staying on top of things and staying connected; as long as you avoid the drama of anonymous accounts.