Twitter is Founded
Twitter was founded in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams. The first tweet was sent by Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006, which read "just setting up my twttr."
2006
2007
Twitter Gains Popularity at SXSW
Twitter gained significant traction during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in 2007. The number of tweets per day increased from 20,000 to 60,000 during the event.
2008
Twitter's User Base Expands
By 2008, Twitter's user base began to grow rapidly, reaching 1 million users. The platform also introduced the hashtag feature, which became a powerful tool for organizing content and trends.
2009
Introduction of the Retweet Feature
In 2009, Twitter introduced the "Retweet" feature, allowing users to share other users' tweets with their followers, significantly enhancing content virality.
2010
Twitter Surpasses 50 Million Tweets Per Day
Twitter's popularity continued to soar, with the platform surpassing 50 million tweets per day by 2010. This growth was driven by increased use during major events like the FIFA World Cup.
2011
Twitter Plays a Role in the Arab Spring
Twitter was used extensively during the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, demonstrating its power as a tool for political activism and real-time communication.
2012
Twitter Hits 500 Million Users
By 2012, Twitter had amassed 500 million registered users. The platform also acquired Vine, a short-form video service, to expand its multimedia capabilities.
2013
Twitter Goes Public
Twitter went public in November 2013, with its initial public offering (IPO) raising $1.8 billion. The company's stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "TWTR."
2014
Twitter Introduces New Features
In 2014, Twitter introduced several new features, including the ability to tag people in photos and the option to share multiple photos in a single tweet.
2015
Launch of Periscope
Twitter launched Periscope, a live video streaming app, in 2015. This move aimed to enhance Twitter's real-time content offering and compete with other live streaming platforms.
2016
Twitter Celebrates 10 Years
Twitter celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016. The platform had grown to 310 million monthly active users and continued to be a significant player in social media.
2017
Expansion to 280 Characters
In 2017, Twitter expanded the character limit for tweets from 140 to 280 characters, allowing users to express themselves more fully.
2018
Twitter's Fight Against Misinformation
Twitter implemented several measures to combat misinformation and improve the quality of information on the platform. This included new policies and tools to identify and remove fake accounts.
2019
Introduction of Twitter Threads
Twitter introduced the "Threads" feature, allowing users to connect multiple tweets together to share longer narratives and more detailed information.
2020
Role in Global Events
During the COVID-19 pandemic and global protests, Twitter played a crucial role in disseminating information and providing a platform for public discourse.
2021
Launch of Twitter Spaces
Twitter launched "Spaces," a feature that allows users to host and participate in live audio conversations, similar to Clubhouse.
2022
Elon Musk's Acquisition Attempt
In 2022, Elon Musk made headlines with his attempt to acquire Twitter. Although initially accepted, the deal faced numerous legal and regulatory hurdles.
2023
Twitter Blue Subscription Service
Twitter introduced "Twitter Blue," a subscription service offering exclusive features such as an undo tweet option, reader mode, and customizable app icons.
2024
Continued Evolution
As of 2024, Twitter continues to evolve, focusing on enhancing user experience, combating misinformation, and exploring new monetization strategies to sustain its growth and influence.
