How do you use your 140 characters when writing a tweet?

For most, Twitter—a San Francisco-based information network—is a way to socialize with friends, share photos and read celebrity gossip.

The real time network “connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting,” according to the Twitter website.

However, what most may not realize is how great the website is for accessing up-to-the minute news.

Personally, I’ve had a Twitter account for the past four years and only use it sparingly. Recently, I’ve discovered what I’ve been missing: news.

I’m more than aware I’m late to the game, and I can’t imagine I’m the only one.

Being in the business I’m in, I realize how easy it is to be out of the loop on daily news. Now that I’ve had this revelation, I make sure I check my feed often to see what I’m missing.

Since 2006, Twitter has been making a large impact on breaking news. There’s live tweeting, the ability to send links to stories or just breaking news information on a large scale.

What’s my favorite part? The fact that I don’t have to tweet to use Twitter.

I don’t feel pressured to tell all of my followers what I had for lunch or what I’m doing all day—although sometimes I do. I’m able to scroll through my Twitter feed on my phone and see what I’ve been missing through the day. By following major media producers like the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Associated Press or USA Today, I’m capable of knowing things that are happening all over the country within seconds.

I also follow people like President Obama, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to stay up-to-date on their campaigns.

Then I make sure I follow news reporters, columnists and celebrities to see what they’re up to and what they think is important. Of course I follow my friends and tweet to them sometimes; that’s basically implied.

However, I’m a busy college student and being able to get bits of news stories on my Twitter feed to pull me into more information is so great.

I encourage you to start a Twitter account if you haven’t already and see what you’re missing.

You never know what you’ll read.