In the early going, founders were using the vowel-free "Twttr" because they were focused on mobile and hoped to get the SMS shortcode 89887 (TWTTR). Unfortunately, according to co-founder Jack Dorsey, that was already owned by Teen People. This was his first tweet.
Key Twitter moments: The first tweet —
In the early going, founders were using the vowel-free "Twttr" because they were focused on mobile and hoped to get the SMS shortcode 89887 (TWTTR). Unfortunately, according to co-founder Jack Dorsey, that was already owned by Teen People. This was his first tweet.
Twitter
Twitter was still a digital infant in March 2007, when the world's technorati descended on Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Interactive festival. According to its founders, Twitter traffic more than tripled that week. All those influencers went home and shared the glories of a service even some tech-savvy folks didn't quite understand at the time.
South by Southwest —
Twitter was still a digital infant in March 2007, when the world's technorati descended on Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Interactive festival. According to its founders, Twitter traffic more than tripled that week. All those influencers went home and shared the glories of a service even some tech-savvy folks didn't quite understand at the time.
Charles Ramirez Berg/SXSW
With one word, U.S. graduate student James Buck set in motion the process that would eventually get him freed from prison in Egypt. He was arrested April 10, 2008, while reporting on protests in the city of Mahalla. His one-word tweet spread quickly to friends and new supporters, who shined a spotlight on his situation.
'Arrested,' then freed —
With one word, U.S. graduate student James Buck set in motion the process that would eventually get him freed from prison in Egypt. He was arrested April 10, 2008, while reporting on protests in the city of Mahalla. His one-word tweet spread quickly to friends and new supporters, who shined a spotlight on his situation.
Twitter
Dorsey calls January 15, 2009, the day Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger landed a failing U.S. Airways airliner on the Hudson River, a major turning point for Twitter. "It just changed everything," he said. "Suddenly the world turned its attention (to us), because we (Twitter users) were the source of news."
Miracle on the Hudson —
Dorsey calls January 15, 2009, the day Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger landed a failing U.S. Airways airliner on the Hudson River, a major turning point for Twitter. "It just changed everything," he said. "Suddenly the world turned its attention (to us), because we (Twitter users) were the source of news."
Actor Ashton Kutcher became the first Twitter user to reach 1 million followers in April 2009, after a race with CNN's breaking news feed. Predictably, some Twitter purists bemoaned a celebrity takeover of their digital hangout.
Million-follower man —
Actor Ashton Kutcher became the first Twitter user to reach 1 million followers in April 2009, after a race with CNN's breaking news feed. Predictably, some Twitter purists bemoaned a celebrity takeover of their digital hangout.
Getty Images
"Twitter celebrity" isn't exactly a career path most guidance counselors would suggest. But it happens. Justin Halpern created his "Sh*t My Dad Says" feed on August 3, 2009, to share quotes he'd collected for years. The account spawned a book deal and a TV show starring William Shatner.
Sh*t My Dad Says —
"Twitter celebrity" isn't exactly a career path most guidance counselors would suggest. But it happens. Justin Halpern created his "Sh*t My Dad Says" feed on August 3, 2009, to share quotes he'd collected for years. The account spawned a book deal and a TV show starring William Shatner.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The so-called "Arab Spring," which began in 2010, was fueled in part on social media like Twitter and Facebook. Young activists used the platforms to communicate among themselves and get their message out to others, even when governments sought to shut down Internet access.
The Arab Spring —
The so-called "Arab Spring," which began in 2010, was fueled in part on social media like Twitter and Facebook. Young activists used the platforms to communicate among themselves and get their message out to others, even when governments sought to shut down Internet access.
Getty Images/FILE
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner made "my Twitter was hacked" the new "dog ate my homework" in June 2011, after his account was used to send salacious selfies to a woman who was not his wife. The unfolding scandal made him the first congressman to resign over a tweet.
The Weiner scandal —
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner made "my Twitter was hacked" the new "dog ate my homework" in June 2011, after his account was used to send salacious selfies to a woman who was not his wife. The unfolding scandal made him the first congressman to resign over a tweet.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images/File
Perhaps it's natural that Twitter, a place first adopted by techies, would be particularly affected by the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. On October 25, 2011, the day Jobs died, Twitter feeds filled with memorials, including the resurfacing of many of his quotes.
Loss of a legend —
Perhaps it's natural that Twitter, a place first adopted by techies, would be particularly affected by the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. On October 25, 2011, the day Jobs died, Twitter feeds filled with memorials, including the resurfacing of many of his quotes.
From Twitter
This tweet by President Obama's account, shortly after his re-election on November 5, 2012, became the most retweeted post of all time until it was topped by Ellen DeGeneres's group selfie at the Oscars.
Four more years —
This tweet by President Obama's account, shortly after his re-election on November 5, 2012, became the most retweeted post of all time until it was topped by Ellen DeGeneres's group selfie at the Oscars.
Barack Obama Twitter account
Short messages were joined by short videos in January of this year when Twitter rolled out Vine, a mobile tool that lets users create and share looping, six-second videos. Five months later, Facebook-owned Instagram would add a similar video feature.
Vine debuts —
Short messages were joined by short videos in January of this year when Twitter rolled out Vine, a mobile tool that lets users create and share looping, six-second videos. Five months later, Facebook-owned Instagram would add a similar video feature.
CNN
Big events like awards shows and major sporting events are when Twitter is at its communal, snarky best. At its peak during the February 3 Super Bowl, thanks to a halftime performance by Beyonce and a power outage, there were 268,000 tweets being sent every minute.
Lights out at the Super Bowl —
Big events like awards shows and major sporting events are when Twitter is at its communal, snarky best. At its peak during the February 3 Super Bowl, thanks to a halftime performance by Beyonce and a power outage, there were 268,000 tweets being sent every minute.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
On April 13, 2013, hackers from the Syrian Electronic Army briefly took over the Associated Press Twitter account and posted "Breaking: Two Explosions in the White House and Barack Obama is injured." The Dow Jones plummeted briefly based on the fake "news."<br />
Hacking Wall Street —
On April 13, 2013, hackers from the Syrian Electronic Army briefly took over the Associated Press Twitter account and posted "Breaking: Two Explosions in the White House and Barack Obama is injured." The Dow Jones plummeted briefly based on the fake "news."
CNNMoney
This star-studded selfie, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTheEllenShow%2Fstatus%2F440322224407314432%2Fphoto%2F1" target="_blank" target="_blank">posted March 2 from the Oscars</a> by host Ellen DeGeneres, collected 3.4 million retweets to become the most popular Twitter message ever.
The Ellen Oscars selfie —
This star-studded selfie, posted March 2 from the Oscars by host Ellen DeGeneres, collected 3.4 million retweets to become the most popular Twitter message ever.
twitter/theellenshow