10 essential Twitter accounts to follow

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10 essential Twitter accounts to follow

How Twitter can help in your daily life and time of need

 

 

Bangkok, 13 November 2019 – Whatever is happening wherever in the world, it's happening on Twitter. An interest-based platform where users are the first to discover and try new things, Twitter is the first and foremost when it comes to breaking news and immediate reaction. However, millions of active users would argue that the value of Twitter goes beyond that. Twitter provides benefits to society in many ways; on a daily basis it can help to educate and inform, Twitter helps users avoid traffic gridlocks, update on transport schedules, forecast bad weather in advance. It can also be an essential source of up-to-date information and a way to communicate in times of emergency. The platform is also a place for inspiring social works and can even be the source of a comforting voice when one feels down.

 

Below we look at some essential accounts for Thai Twitter users to follow.

 

Day-to-day travel essentials in Bangkok

 

1.     JS100 (@js100radio)

Launched as a traffic radio station 28 years ago, JS100 has become one of the best friends of Bangkok commuters. No wonder that it is one of the most followed accounts in Thailand after breaking onto Twitter about a decade ago. True to its original format, the account features reports from commuters and with its huge base of followers enhanced by the speed of Twitter, its real-time traffic coverage is second to none.

 

2.     BTS SkyTrain (@BTS_SkyTrain)
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) is an essential part of Bangkokian’s daily life. Its Twitter account is one of the most engaged in the transportation category and responds to riders’ inquiries and demands. When there is a “crisis” - such as a technical problem and train delays - the account is an essential real-time information center, reporting on the situation at each station along the network. It also plays a role in educating people on dos and don’ts while riding public transport.
 

3.     Airport Rail Link (@AirportRailLink)
The Airport Rail Link is an essential travel route between downtown and Suvarnabhumi airport, and includes stops in some of Bangkok’s outer areas. Its Twitter account is a must for train commuters especially during rush hours, for example, they will inform people via the platform about an extra train leaving a station at a certain time. They often report on frequency of the trains, delays or crowded platforms. 
 

4.     กรมอุตุนิยมวิทยา (@tmdthai)
The role of the Meteorological Department is more important than ever with the alarming change in climate. It is responsible for weather forecasting and people rely on it to plan their lives accordingly. With floods and other incidents related to weather affecting many, their Twitter account is very useful. They Tweet weather predictions nationwide and alert followers about abrupt changes in weather. When Tweeting live updates recently they became the talk-of-the-town as they forgot to turn off the funny filter. This small mistake, however, made more people aware of this useful account.
 

Twitter can help in emergency situations

During a time of emergency or crisis, mobile networks may be unreliable or suffer unexpected high use, making it hard to stay connected and communicate. Twitter Lite app can help in these situations. Data and storage friendly, Twitter Lite is small in size, loads quickly, is resilient on unreliable mobile networks and when data saver mode is enabled it minimises data usage ensuring users can remain connected, Tweet live and keep up-to-date with the latest situation news. Twitter Lite is available on Android devices and at mobile.twitter.com, and can be accessed in offline mode as well. It’s available in more than 45 countries, including Thailand.

 

5.     กรมป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณภัย (ปภ.) (@DDPMNews)
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) handles disaster management responsibilities. Although relatively new to Twitter, they currently Tweet about their work in the field and give public useful information on safety measures. DDPM deal with disasters and mitigations all across the country making it a must follow account that will provide vital information in emergency situations. 

 

6.     ข่าวการไฟฟ้านครหลวง (@mea_news)
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority distributes power to all households in the Bangkok metropolis. Long before the MEA were on Twitter, many people had no idea where they could seek help in case of a blackout. MEA created @mea_news nine years ago and ever since it has served the public as a reliable source about matters related to electricity. All news including (future) power cuts can be found at this account. Moreover, it provides useful information such as how to choose energy-saving equipment and appliances.

 

Making a positive impact

 

7.     Samaritans of Thailand (@Samaritans_Thai)
Samaritans of Thailand have just made their debut on Twitter. The account aims to tackle mental health problems direct and help to prevent people from taking their own lives - according to Thailand’s Department of Mental Health, six people attempt suicide in Thailand every hour. Those who feel lonely, sad or depressed and want to talk to someone can reach out. They Tweet in Thai and English so it is good for expats in Thailand also. People can also listen to short audio clips in which volunteers share their experience about various aspects of mental problems and possible ways-out.

In partnership with @Samaritans_Thai, Twitter have also launched #ThereIsHelp, a notification service on Twitter for suicide and self harm. When a user searches for terms associated with suicide or self harm, the top search result is a notification in Thai language encouraging them to reach out for help. The notification provides the contact details of Samaritans of Thailand in Thailand.

 

8.     กรมสุขภาพจิต (@PR_dmh)
As things get tougher, it is not surprising that mental health problems in society are becoming more serious. Thai people’s mental health is deteriorating with an alarming increase of suicides and this is why the Ministry of Public Health has a valuable role to play in promoting mental health. Their account gives useful hints on early signs of problems and Tweet useful information that can relate to everyone, linking real cases to movies and current news. They also promote a hotline number for offline communications - tel: 1323.

 

9.     Manushya Foundation (@ManushyaFdn)
Based in Thailand, Manushya Foundation is a pan-Asia NGO that promotes community empowerment. They engage, mobilise and empower communities in the region connecting people to ensure human rights are at the heart of local communities. Their Tweets are informative, reporting on the foundation’s activities, and they challenge the status quo, providing both insight into human rights issues and the need for social justice.
 

10.   มูลนิธิกระจกเงา (@Mirror_org)
The foundation of volunteers on a wide range of social works from missing kids and ethnic minorities to disaster response, donations, homelessness and elderly people needing help and care. It is also a major donation centre for underprivileged people. The foundation Tweets about their works in a way that gives the public opportunities to learn about ordinary lives and social problems in the country. Followers can also learn a great deal about ongoing social problems and join the volunteers’ ultimate goal of making society a better place.

 

When following multiple accounts, it can help to group them by topics and Twitter’s Lists function allows people on Twitter to do just that. Lists about “Bangkok Travel” or perhaps “Emergencies” can help users more easily follow accounts on specific topics of interest. Lists can be public or made private and users can allow others to follow their lists, if they wish. To find out more about how Lists work, what they can do for you and how to set one up, visit https://help.twitter.com/using-twitter/twitter-lists.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Don't forget this one for the daily laugh

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump