Twitter Turns 10: Memorable Events of the Decade

Advertisement
By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 18 March 2016 15:56 IST

Over its 10-year history, Twitter has marked numerous world events and created its own unique moments.

Here are a few key milestones in Twitter history:

March 2006: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (@jack) sent the first tweet, an automated message saying "just setting up my twttr." That same day, he sent the first live tweet, "inviting coworkers."

Advertisement

April 2008: US university student James Buck (@jamesbuck) got off a one-word tweet "Arrested" after being taken into custody by Egyptian authorities at an anti-government protest in that country. In what is seen as an early demonstration of the power of Twitter to rally people to a cause, the resulting outcry prompted authorities to quickly restore his liberty. He proclaimed his release in a tweet reading "Free."

Advertisement

January 2009: "There's a plane in the Hudson. I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy." Latvian-American Janis Kums (@jkrums) delivers news of a US Airways jet that crash-landed on the Hudson River in New York, breaking the story ahead of mainstream media outlets.

May 2009: The first tweet from space from astronaut Mike Massimino (@astro_mike): "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!"

Advertisement

2011: The #ArabSpring hashtag takes hold on Twitter, underscoring the importance of the messaging platform in pro-democracy uprisings starting in Tunisia.

May 2011: "Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1am (is a rare event)." IT consultant Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) unknowingly tweets about US Navy Seals raiding a nearby home in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding. Bin Laden was killed during the operation.

Advertisement

November 2012: President Barack Obama (@BarackObama) tweets "Four more years" to proclaim his re-election victory along with a picture of him and his wife, Michelle, hugging. The post was the most shared tweet at that time.

December 2012: Pope Benedict XVI launched the first papal Twitter account (@pontifex), which was continued by his successor, Pope Francis. The first message was "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."

March 2014: A picture tweeted live from the Oscars ceremony by Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) with Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt and taken by Bradley Cooper is retweeted more than three million times, a record: "If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars"

June 2014: The Central Intelligence Agency (@cia) shows a sense of humor: "We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet."

June 2015: Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) makes her new transgender identity public: "I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me." The message is retweeted more than 250,000 times.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Apps, Barack Obama, Jack Dorsey, Social, Twitter
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Google's Pixel Upgrade Program Lets You Get the Latest Model Every Year
  2. Sony's Year-End Holiday Sale on PS5 Accessories, Games Kicks Off Next Week
  3. OTT Releases This Week: Thamma, Mrs Deshpande, Raat Akeli Hai The Bansal Murders, and More
  4. Oppo Reno 15 Pro, Reno 15 Pro Max Global Variants Surface on Geekbench
  5. YouTube Bans Popular Channels for Making Misleading AI-Generated Movie Trailers
  6. Dominic and The Ladies' Purse Streaming Now: Know Where to Watch It Online
  7. Here's When the Realme 16 Pro Series Will Launch in India
  8. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Battery Details and Colourways Surface Ahead of Launch
  9. Starlink satellite tumbles toward Earth after orbital failure
  10. Four More Shots Please Final Season Streaming Now: Know Where to Watch it Online
  1. Astronomers Observe Black Hole Twisting Spacetime for the First Time, Confirming Einstein’s Theory
  2. Hubble Captures Rare Collision in Nearby Planetary System, Revealing Violent Planet Formation
  3. Scientists Rule Out Elusive Sterile Neutrino After 10-Year Hunt, Shaking Particle Physics
  4. NASA’s PUNCH Mission Provides First Continuous Views of Solar Eruptions Across Space
  5. Starlink Satellite Breaks Apart in Orbit, Begins Uncontrolled Fall Toward Earth After SpaceX Anomaly
  6. Four More Shots Please Final Season Out on Prime Video: Know Everything About This Show For One Last Time
  7. Godday Godday Chaa 2 Now Streaming Online: A Powerful Punjabi Comedy with Social Satire
  8. Pharma Streaming Now on JioHotstar: Everything You Need to Know About This Thought-Provoking Drama Online
  9. Mrs. Deshpande Now Streaming Online: A Powerful Drama Exploring Identity, Marriage and Strength
  10. Adobe Partners With Runway to Offer Firefly Users Early Access to Video Generation Models
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.