Explain how twitter works please?

[Christian]

I want a twitter account but I find it so confusing with the #'s and @'s I don't get what it all means and why you'd use it, could someone please explain twitter to me thanks

[950]

If you want to mention someone in a tweet, or talk to them, you put an @ before their username. Two ways to use this are:
@exampleaccount Hey! Are you free today!
I'm with @exampleaccount at the shops.

# is used for trends/trending topics. It's like what you put before a phrase or word and then you can click on it to see other people who have tweeted the same trend. For example:
I love Justin Bieber. #swag
Just fell down the stairs. #fail #oops
#theawkwardmoment when you shut the fuck up.