On March 21, 2006, five words changed internet forever when Jack Dorsey, keyed in “just setting up my twttr”, and posted it on Twitter. He is the co-founder and CEO of Twitter and this was the first post ever. Since then Twitter has been used by millions to break news, make announcements and share events.
On April 29, 2007, US president Barack Obama joined Twitter with an important announcement. @BarackObama wrote: “Thinking we’re only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq.”
The following year on June 20, the world learned about a pivotal Martian discovery from the unmanned mission’s dedicated Twitter account, @MarsPhoenix, which posted: “Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t! Best day ever!”
The year 2008 also saw tweets from China that alerted the world to the region’s severe earthquake before traditional media could get a hold of the story.
News of the untimely demise of Michael Jackson in June 2009 went viral via Twitter first, when the media outlet TMZ relied on unnamed sources and on-the-spot rumours and tweeted that the ‘King of Pop’ had passed away.
The royal wedding of the Prince of Wales to Catherine Middleton was also announced on Clarence House’s official Twitter account.
On November 16, 2010, @ClarenceHouseposted: “The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton...”
A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) astronaut made Twitter history on January 22, 2010 Friday by sending the first tweet from outer space. Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer broadcast the following message directly from the International Space Station. @Astro_TJ wrote: “Hello Twitterverse! We r now LIVE tweeting from the International Space Station - the 1st live tweet from Space! :) More soon...”
One of Twitter’s historic victories however was on May 1, 2011. An IT consultant named Sohaib Athar from Abbottabad, Pakistan unknowingly live-tweeted the Navy SEAL raid that resulted in Osama Bin Laden’s death, approximately nine hours before the news hit the wires. @ReallyVirtual posted: “Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event).”
Twitter was also the source when the world found out that the iconic singer Whitney Houston had died. Twitter user @chilemasgrande posted: “My sources say Whitney Houston found dead in Beverly hills hotel... Not in the news yet!”
On April 15, 2013 in Boston, an Ethopian runner won the Boston Marathon at around noon. At 2:50 an eyewitness took a photo of fire and smoke down the street. A bomb had exploded. Twitter user Dan Lampariello @WBBJ7Dan uploaded this photo to his twitter account, a minute later, with the caption: “Explosion at coply.” Eight minutes later the Reuters’ social media editor, Anthony De Roas @AntDeRosa retweeted the photo.
In 2016, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai made global history when he used Twitter in a completely unprecedented manner - to announce the new cabinet ministers and diversify the roles of existing ministries. Minister of State for Happiness and The Minister of State for Tolerance were among the new portfolios added.
Ten years of tweets, ten years of history in 140 characters.
Twitter top followed:
KATY PERRY KATY PERRY@katyperry
84,718,981
Justin Bieber Justin Bieber@justinbieber
77,394,870
Taylor Swift Taylor Swift@taylorswift13
73,142,580
