Press Secretary Jay Carney joins Twitter

White House press secretary Jay Carney took his place at the podium two weeks ago. And today, Carney took the corresponding position on Twitter with Robert Gibbs' old @PressSec handle.

"Ok, let's turn this machine back on," he tweeted Monday. "Jay Carney here, send your Qs my way and I'll answer a few soon."

It's Carney's first time using the social media platform, so it remains to be seen if he enjoys Twitter as much as his predecessor.

Gibbs, who left the White House earlier this month, has praised Twitter for helping the Obama administration be more transparent with the public.

The White House press shop has used Twitter effectively over the past two years to quickly push back against negative stories or reports they consider inaccurate.

(Photo of Carney in the briefing room on Feb. 16, 2011: Charles Dharapak/AP)