The social media platform Twitter arrived on the scene in 2006 and made a splash in the social media world shortly thereafter.
Since then, Twitter has become a great way for friends to stay connected, businesses to promote themselves, and even for the president to let us know what shoes they’re wearing. Even though Twitter offers many of the same customization features as other platforms, this social media platform is extremely unique.
Twitter is renowned as one of the most connective and unique social media platforms out there for a plethora of reasons. But how did it originate? What are the trends? These questions will all be answered in due time.
For now, let’s just cover some of the general information regarding the social media platform. So, what is Twitter? Well, it all boils down to some key facts. In this article, we will be covering the origins and the trends of Twitter over the years, as well as how the social media platform works and why it’s so popular.
So, let’s dive right in!
What Is Twitter?
Twitter is an online social networking and news site where users can communicate with one another through tweets. Twitter offers profile customization and direct messages much like Facebook and Instagram, but what makes the platform so unique is its inherent simplicity.
Twitter is so easy to use and scan that even those with the shortest attention spans can use it for hours on end. Users are often captivated by witty tweets, funny retweets, breaking news, memes, and much more. What initially began as a way for friends to connect with one another has evolved into one of the world’s biggest phenomenons.
For better or worse, Twitter operates as a platform that allows users to speak openly and freely about their opinions regarding certain topics. The good thing is that if you don’t like what someone has to say, you don’t have to follow them. Users’ opinions are expressed through tweets.
Are you wondering, “What is tweet?” Tweeting is simple, and it means posting short messages for anyone who follows a user on Twitter. In essence, Twitter is pretty much microblogging, yet with a more connective feel given users’ ability to actively communicate with one another. Users can repost tweets through “ReTweeting”, like tweets, respond to tweets, and even hold entire communications with the posting user under their tweet.
The options to communicate on Twitter are pretty much limitless.
How Does Twitter Work?
Twitter is easy to use whether you’re the one tweeting or you’re simply scrolling through your feed. One can join Twitter with a free account and username. That’s right, just like Facebook and Instagram, Twitter is a
To tweet, users go to their “What’s Happening” box next to their feed, type 280 characters or less, and click “Tweet”. People who follow that user, and even some who don’t, will be able to see the new tweet.
That’s all there is to it! You can encourage your friends to follow you, find celebrities to follow, customize your profile, post videos, GIFs, etc. The options when it comes to what you can and can’t post with Twitter are pretty much limitless, as long as the tweets are appropriate (to some degree). Have you ever checked out Twitter?
The Initial Purpose of Twitter
Twitter began as an idea that
However, many believed that the idea was lacking some components, and that it was incomplete. Although many loved the idea, some just felt like a few things were missing. As a result, Dorsey was given more time on the project to develop the idea further. It would prove to pay off.
In the early days of Twitter, the social media platform was referred to as twttr due to the trend at the time being to drop vowels in the names of companies to gain some kind of competitive advantage.
Eventually, Noah Glass (software developer) would change the original name that he had developed for the platform to a new one: Twitter. It would go on to make a splash in the social media world.
How Twitter Became So Popular
In 2007, Twitter took off at the South by Southwest Interactive Conference.
At the conference, over 60,000 tweets were sent per day at the event. Think of the raving over the app as the big splash that TikTok made when it was first released. It was insane! The Twitter team present at the event took advantage of the viral nature of the conference and kept the ball rolling.
But, that’s not to say that Twitter didn’t experience growing pains during its formative years. As Twitter’s user base continued to grow exponentially, the service would reach capacity.
As a result, the team at Twitter got to work and started improving the platform drastically in order to prepare for the influx in users that was just over the horizon.
Scan-friendly
After server overloads had been fixed sometime after Twitter’s initial launch, the social media app began to burst at the seams with popularity. As the users poured in, more and more continued to follow. Before you knew it, everyone and their mother was sending out tweets on a daily basis.
One of the key reasons why Twitter is so popular across demographics is due in part to how
Just take a look at TikTok! There is no denying that our collective ability to pay attention to certain things has dwindled. But, it may be more accurate to say that we’ve gotten more selective given the abundance of content we see every day.
Character limits
The Twitter platform employs a purposeful message size restriction to keep things
This cap on tweet length promotes the focused and clever use of words to generate an emotional response. This allows users to see more tweets, connect with more people, and learn more than what they had the day before by being able to scroll incredibly fast through feeds. The size restriction of Twitter itself and the platform’s easy scannability are essentially what made it such a popular form of social media.
After all, people want the meat and potatoes, not the trimmed fat!
Why Do People Use Twitter?
People from all walks of life use Twitter. Whether it’s because of scanability, character limits, connectivity, news, you name it! This social media platform embodies the social aspect of the internet and media without making it too personal or detrimental to mental health.
The platform is essentially filterless, and allows users to truly be themselves. Twitter is easy to use, the tweets are easy to read, and the platform provides us with a sort of break from the mundane repetitiveness of our everyday lives.
People send tweets for a variety of reasons beyond sharing their own personal thoughts. It could be out of vanity, for attention,
However, a growing number of Twitter users have taken to sending out useful content, posting news, promoting the latest trends in commerce, etc. Many even promote their businesses on Twitter in captivating and engaging ways.
What Is Twitter Good For?
Whether you use Twitter recreationally, as a business, a creative, a journalist, a scholar, or even as the president of the United States, this platform has a unique way of connecting users with an
By implementing the right hashtags, a vintage clothes reseller can easily find their target audience simply by inputting “#” followed by a word or phrase that encompasses their industry. It’s that simple.
Users can also link websites to their profile and, like Instagram, encourage people to check out the link in their bio. Users can also post pictures, videos, and links to products through scannable tweets! Honestly, what form of marketing/promotion is easier than that? It’s SEO in social media form!
The Las News: Twitter Acquisition
Did you hear that
On April 25, 2022, the Twitter board of directors agreed to a $44 billion buyout by Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, potentially making it one of the biggest deals to turn a company private.
Let’s wait and see how this will return!
When Was the Last Time You’ve Sent a Tweet?
Now that you’re a Twitter expert, it’s time to send out your tweets! Whether you’re a business or an individual using the app recreationally, there’s something for everyone on Twitter. This social media platform offers a plethora of options when it comes to communication.
So, get to tweeting!
