Twitter


DAVID FENG QUICK LINKS
Academic research: Social media in China; academic CV
Involvements: in China; or general China media experience
Media: Interview requests; media involvements
Speaking: Topics, experience; book David


WELCOME TO DAVID’S TWITTER FEED

David is active on Twitter at @DavidFeng, and he tweet about all kinds of things, but most of the content on Twitter is related to tech, media and current affairs, in particular with a China focus. He also tweets at times what is happening in London and the rest of the UK, as well as developments in Switzerland.

David often tweets a lot, and is also a heavy tweeter while on the go. (Sorry — you might have to bear with him, but you are also free to subscribe to David on Facebook, for a little less traffic.) On average, he will post up to 50 or more tweets; during live events, that number will be much more — sorry for the tweet-inundation! Alternatively (especially if you are starting out), you might want to ensure you have at least 5-10 people / organisations you follow — otherwise you’ll see your feed full of David’s posts.

David enjoys diversity and debates on Twitter — you’ll often get info from a few news tweets from news sources in over 80 countries — and he check @mentions all the time. (Here’s a secret: if you can’t reach David by phone, provided you’ve his phone number, try tweeting David — both @mentions and, if enabled, Direct Messages, will work fine.)

DAVID FENG’S TWITTER POLICIES

  • No person must be forced to follow David. Twitter is all about following different voices which are freely shared. The following or following back is also voluntary. David following you does not mean you must follow him back, although he would highly appreciate that, as it is a nice gesture. When it comes to interacting with people or picking brands, whether you follow David or not is not on its own a deciding factor on whether or not he use your services or talk to you.
  • David will choose whom he will follow. As a corollary to the above, whom David follows (or does not follow) are private, independent choices which are not subject to interference by any outside party. Again, whether or not he follows you does not, on its down, act as a deciding factor as to whether or not he chooses to use your services, or speak with you.
  • If you follow David and he doesn’t follow back, just interact with him. Sending a follow request is OK as long as you don’t it look like spam. An uninvited message with just a simple link (and nothing else) is automatically treated as spam by default.
  • David might thank you — but rarely via DM. Some whom follow him or follow him back will get a very simple, one-off @reply thanking them for this move. There is no obligation to respond to this, although this is a great way to start a conversation with David. Anyone sending you a Direct Message (with links or without) just because you have followed David is most likely impersonating him, as he will never send these (they appear too “spammy”). The most he will do is to thank you personally with no links in that message (even that is rare!).
  • What David tweets is what he thinks. All his tweets are belong to him (so to speak). They’ve nothing to do with people that give David money in any form, although personal policy is generally one of not insulting those that give you the £££.
  • See David’s retweets as giving the microphone to others. He might add a comment (or maybe not), but the content of the retweet is that person’s responsibility. Don’t take a retweet as a 100% endorsement, although if he retweeted you, good chances are he likes what you’re tweeting, or he thinks what you’re tweeting is interesting or of use to him (and his followers). Think of it this way: if David passes you the microphone, he cannot control what you say, but he will allow you to say what you will (just keep it legal and moral, and all will be well). That same way of thinking works for David’s retweets.
  • David will not discriminate, post illegal content, or swear at people. Content in violation of Chinese, Swiss, US, or international laws will not be posted or retweeted. It is personal policy never to post discriminatory content of any kind — any tweets about, for example, “hate XYZ marches” will simply be ignored and not posted. If it’s something the Constitution and laws do not allow to be posted, that, too, will be observed. Finally, even if David has no way of relating or identifying with what you are saying, he will never swear at you, belittle you, or call you names of any kind — in particular if they hurt you. That’s how David does things; he expects the same from you.
  • For anything private, use Direct Messages or email David. Remember that public posts on Twitter are, in essence, public, forever, and are there for the world to see. David can’t really control you if you must post all 16 digits of your credit card online, but he will never recommend you do it. As for him, David will never publish any personally identifying information — including your date of birth, ID or card numbers, or anything sensitive, privileged or confidential that qualifies as such. Content provided under NDAs are never released in violation of such agreements.
  • As on Facebook, you might be @mentioned if David knows you offline regardless of the connection on social media. Blocks are reciprocal: if you block David, you will be blocked, and you will have to submit a request that he unblocks you first.

David will unfollow you if:

  • the contents of your tweets are mainly coarse, abusive, vulgar, or obscene (except for tweets marked “for effect / humour only”)
  • you post content that he personally finds against his basic principles, or are illegal or criminal
  • there are serious, fundamental, irreconcilable differences between us, to extents they may become confrontational or escalate further

Being unfollowed is likely more possible if you have already unfollowed David, and are not very active on Twitter. If you want him to follow back, just @mention this to him (please refrain from “spammy requests”).

and will block you if you:

  • spam
  • post very abusive or threatening content
  • are considered a danger or a threat; or you have been blocked to ensure information safety

Otherwise, David sees not why the following shouldn’t be reciprocal!