Twitter is a microblogging and social networking platform where users post and interact with messages known as "tweets." Here are some key points about Twitter:
History
- Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams. The first tweet was posted by Jack Dorsey on July 15, 2006.
- The company officially launched in July 2006 and grew rapidly in popularity. By 2013, Twitter had over 200 million users, with half of those logging in daily.
- In November 2013, Twitter went public with its initial public offering (IPO), and its stock was traded under the ticker symbol TWTR.
Features
- Tweets: Originally limited to 140 characters, the length was increased to 280 characters in November 2017. Tweets can include photos, videos, and links.
- Retweets: Users can share others' tweets with their followers.
- Hashtags (#): Used to categorize and find topics of interest. They were popularized by Twitter users themselves.
- Mentions (@): Allows users to mention or reply to other users.
- Direct Messages (DMs): Private messaging service within the platform.
- Moments: Curated stories from across Twitter, highlighting what's happening around the world.
- Fleets: A now-discontinued feature similar to Snapchat Stories, where tweets disappeared after 24 hours.
Usage and Impact
- Twitter has become a vital tool for real-time communication, especially during live events, political movements, and for breaking news.
- It has influenced numerous aspects of culture, media, and politics, enabling citizen journalism, activism, and direct communication between celebrities, politicians, and their audiences.
- The platform has been criticized for issues like harassment, misinformation, and the spread of fake news, leading to various policy changes and the introduction of verification badges to authenticate notable accounts.
Corporate Changes
- In 2022, Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion, leading to significant changes in management, policy, and the platform's direction. This acquisition has been highly publicized and controversial.
- Under Musk's leadership, there have been staff layoffs, policy shifts, and changes in how content moderation and verification are handled.
External sources for further reading:
Related topics: