Nine years ago on this date, an experimental micro-blogging social media site made its rather inauspicious debut. Dubbed "Twitter" by its creators, no one expected much out of the social media site, as the ubiquitous Facebook had been launched two years prior and had quickly taken over the Internet as the site du jour. Many critics felt that being limited to only 140 characters was far too restrictive to be enjoyable and that users would quickly grow tired of this limitation and return to Facebook or perhaps join another social media upstart.
Slowly but surely, however, Twitter began to make a name for itself. Users began to break important news stories using the site, sharing valuable information to millions of members across the globe in real time. One of the first big news stories to break via tweets shared by members was the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River in New York City in January 2009. Since then, countless important news items have broken on Twitter, with the near-instantaneous exchange and flow of information via the site providing hundreds of millions of users with vital access to breaking news a key point in its continued popularity.
Users began to use "hashtags" (words or phrases preceded by the pound sign #) to connect their tweets with other members with common interests. As of 2015, Twitter has over a half billion members, with approximately 284 million being active users. Each day, over one billion tweets are posted. Many verified celebrities have joined the site over the years to help boost their images, with many garnering millions of followers.
The instant ability to post anything you think or feel however mundane at a moment's notice has lead to controversy over the years as well. Many members post tweets without much thought and without using editorial discretion. Case in point, actress and author Ashley Judd, a devout fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, live tweeted while watching a recent match between UK and Arkansas that the Arkansas team was "playing dirty". It was an innocent, knee-jerk reaction to what she was feeling at the moment, and she posted her opinion in real time while watching the game to Twitter, where she has over a quarter of a million followers. Almost immediately, she was viciously attacked by countless Arkansas fans who trolled her with vile threats of sexual violence and misogynistic language far too profane and stomach-churning to post here. Judd, a victim of sexual assault in the past, quickly deleted the tweet, but has since gone on to use her experience to bring attention to how social media sites such as Twitter can harbor users who use the platform to anonymously heap abuse on other members. She is threatening legal action against all users who targeted her with abuse.
Twitter has also had to contend with the rise of the terrorist Islamic State or ISIS. Many of the so-called "jihadists" connected with ISIS began to use Twitter to entice people from around the world to join their organization, as the group promoted violence and hatred on a mass scale. Millions of profiles have been deleted, but the organization continues to use Twitter as a platform for their cause. Following the recent attack on the Charlie Hedbo magazine headquarters in Paris, millions of Twitter users used the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie to announce their solidarity with the 12 journalists murdered and with the cause of free speech.
Will Twitter be around nine years from now? It's hard to say, but more than likely, yes, it will be. People will always have something to say, at least that much is undeniable! I should note, I'm a major tweetaholic. You may follow me on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MiguelDante
Slowly but surely, however, Twitter began to make a name for itself. Users began to break important news stories using the site, sharing valuable information to millions of members across the globe in real time. One of the first big news stories to break via tweets shared by members was the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River in New York City in January 2009. Since then, countless important news items have broken on Twitter, with the near-instantaneous exchange and flow of information via the site providing hundreds of millions of users with vital access to breaking news a key point in its continued popularity.
Users began to use "hashtags" (words or phrases preceded by the pound sign #) to connect their tweets with other members with common interests. As of 2015, Twitter has over a half billion members, with approximately 284 million being active users. Each day, over one billion tweets are posted. Many verified celebrities have joined the site over the years to help boost their images, with many garnering millions of followers.
The instant ability to post anything you think or feel however mundane at a moment's notice has lead to controversy over the years as well. Many members post tweets without much thought and without using editorial discretion. Case in point, actress and author Ashley Judd, a devout fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, live tweeted while watching a recent match between UK and Arkansas that the Arkansas team was "playing dirty". It was an innocent, knee-jerk reaction to what she was feeling at the moment, and she posted her opinion in real time while watching the game to Twitter, where she has over a quarter of a million followers. Almost immediately, she was viciously attacked by countless Arkansas fans who trolled her with vile threats of sexual violence and misogynistic language far too profane and stomach-churning to post here. Judd, a victim of sexual assault in the past, quickly deleted the tweet, but has since gone on to use her experience to bring attention to how social media sites such as Twitter can harbor users who use the platform to anonymously heap abuse on other members. She is threatening legal action against all users who targeted her with abuse.
Twitter has also had to contend with the rise of the terrorist Islamic State or ISIS. Many of the so-called "jihadists" connected with ISIS began to use Twitter to entice people from around the world to join their organization, as the group promoted violence and hatred on a mass scale. Millions of profiles have been deleted, but the organization continues to use Twitter as a platform for their cause. Following the recent attack on the Charlie Hedbo magazine headquarters in Paris, millions of Twitter users used the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie to announce their solidarity with the 12 journalists murdered and with the cause of free speech.
Will Twitter be around nine years from now? It's hard to say, but more than likely, yes, it will be. People will always have something to say, at least that much is undeniable! I should note, I'm a major tweetaholic. You may follow me on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MiguelDante