New Delhi: It was today 15 years ago when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey posted ”just setting up my twttr.” It’s the 15th anniversary of the first tweet on the platform.
Twitter has become one of the most widely used social media networks across the globe. As this network is growing here are some the important moments of Twitter’s history.
Introducing #Hashtages (2007)
People don’t used know Hashtags before untill Chirs Messina bring the unique idea to boost the platform in 2007. Before Hashtags were used to known as organisation tool for messages on the Internet Relay Chat network, also known as IRC.
The first hashtag was twitted by Messina in August 2007 and the first popular use for this unique feature came just 2 months after during the California wildfires.
March 2007 – Twitter wins “best startup” at South by Southwest, making its first crack into mainstream recognition
April 2007 – Twitter officially becomes its own company. Williams chooses Dorsey as its CEO.
June 2007 – Twitter holds its first round of funding, raising $5 million and receiving a valuation of $20 million.
October 2008 – With frustration over unaddressed server failures and the encouragement of Evan Williams, Twitter’s shareholders remove Dorsey as CEO, replacing him with Williams.
April 2009 – A Twitter feud between Ashton Kutcher and CNN over who would be the first to reach one million followers (Kutcher won) followed by Williams appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to set up her account leads to record-setting rates of new user sign-ups.
April 2009 – Dorsey travels with several tech entrepreneurs to Iraq as part of a U.S.-sponsored effort for Silicon Valley leaders to provide the new Iraq government advice on how to create a tech-friendly atmosphere. Also part of Dorsey’s media campaign to cement his status as inventor and founder of Twitter.
April 2009 – Twitter executives Evan Williams and Biz Stone are listed under Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. Dorsey is not included.
June 2009 – Twitter delays planned server maintenance while Iranian protesters use it to stage post-election demonstrations. This comes after a U.S. State Department official emails the company to encourage the delay.
September 2009 – Dick Costolo is brought on board as COO to help Twitter’s profitability, tweets joke, “First full day Twitter COO tomorrow. Task #1 undermine CEO, consolidate power.”
November 2009 Twitter changes “What’s your status” to “What’s happening.”
April 2010 – Twitter announces the use of promoted tweets for advertising, creating its first clear avenue for consistent profitability.
June 2010 – Twitter servers crash while Russian president Dmitry Medyedev visits offices for his first tweet, come back just in time for him to send it.
October 2010 – Following a series of meetings with Jack Dorsey, the board removes Evan Williams as CEO, replacing him with Dick Costelo under the assumption that Dorsey will eventually take his place.
July 2011 – The White House hosts a Twitter town hall with President Barack Obama and Jack Dorsey as moderator.
June 2011 – Cofounder Biz Stone announces departure from his day-to-day role at Twitter.
September 2011– Twitter reaches 100 million users.
December 2011 – Twitter redesigns profile and timeline of Tweets, adding Home, Connect, and Discover tabs for a layout that brings many comparisons to Facebook FB .
June 2012 – Twitter modifies its logo, removing text to make the slightly redesigned blue bird its symbol.
October 2012 – Twitter acquires Vine.
December 2012 – Twitter passes 200 million monthly active users
November 2013– Twitter releases its IPO, starting with a valuation of $31 billion.
November 2014 – Twitter announces an instant timeline.
December 2014 – Twitter releases new anti-harassment tools and announces that more effort will be put toward curbing online abuse.
January 2015– Twitter acquires ZipDial.
January 2015 – “While you were away” feature arrives.
March 2015 – Twitter releases the “Quality Filter” feature for iOS users to block bullying tweets from their feed.
April 2015 – Twitter shares fall by 18%.
May 2015– Google adds tweets to its search results.
June 2015– Dick Costolo steps down as CEO with Jack Dorsey taking over.
October 2015 – Twitter adds Twitter Moments.
November 2015 – Twitter replaces the favorite button and star symbol with a like button and a heart symbol.
October 2016– Twitter lays off roughly 9% of its workforce, eliminating 350 jobs.
October 2016 – Twitter discontinues the Vine app.
January 2017– Twitter removes the Twitter dashboard feature and replaces the “Moments” tab with the “Explore” tab.
November 2017 – Rogue Twitter employee on his last day deactivates President Donald Trump’s account. Taken back online after 11 minutes.
September 2018 – Jack Dorsey testifies before the U.S. senate alongside Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.
November 2018 – Twitter expands from 140 to 280-word count.
February 2019– Twitter replaces declining “monthly active users” metric with “monetizable daily active users” count.
June 2019 – Twitter reveals data showing thousands of fake accounts linked to foreign governments like Iran and Russia.
