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Yes, it does seem like Twitter has been around for decades, but in reality the insanely popular social media site turned 10-years-young today!
It all started out with this single tweet:
Now a decade later, Twitter has morphed into a world-wide phenomenon that has changed the way that we as a global community consume news, communicate with each other and share information thanks to its 320 million users. In a blog post, the folks over at the billion-dollar tech compay thanked everyone for their support throughout the past 10 years.
They wrote:
“As we mark this milestone, it’s you we want to celebrate. As March 21 begins around the world, each of our global offices will kick off the day by showing our appreciation and gratitude — starting in Sydney and following the sun to headquarters in San Francisco. We are excited to celebrate with all of you.
Throughout the years, you’ve made Twitter what it is today and you’re shaping what it will be in the future. Thank you for making history, driving change, lifting each other up and laughing together every day. #LoveTwitter“
While it’s important that as we celebrate this milestone, we must also tip our hats to Black Twitter whose tenacity, humor and love for our people has changed the social media game since emerging in 2012. They have worn many hats serving as media watch dog, celebratory girlfriend, hilarious free entertainment, hashtag activist and social justice catalyst.
Part of this power comes the fact that African-Americans are more likely to be logged on to Twitter than any other racial and ethnic group, a Pew study found. “Black users tweet more frequently and log on on more often. Black Twitter makes up a lot of core users. Twitter is public, so not only is Black Twitter having a conversation among themselves, they’re also having a conversation in the public eye,” Mark Luckie, Twitter’s former manager of journalism and news, recently told The Huffington Post.
He’s got a point. In reaction to the high-profile killing of Trayvon Martin, it was sistas’ Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi that ushered in the hasthag #BlackLivesMatter, a hasthag that forever changed how this nation will discuss the police violence and racial and gender inequality.
https://twitter.com/JebMiddlebrook/status/709776776889675776
And then there was #BringBackOurGirls:
#SayHerName
https://twitter.com/kiagregory/status/623997370481672193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#IfIDieInCustody
https://twitter.com/kingfee901/status/621818990055301121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#BlackOnCampus
We’ve also used to Twitter to read white folks for their utter nonsense:
#OscarsSoWhite
#StayMadAbby
https://twitter.com/chelseajones_/status/674758162944270337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#Damonsplaining
In addition to calling out oppression and hypocrisy, Black Twitter has also been about celebrating our beauty, poise and awesomeness:
#BlackGirlMagic
#MelaninMondays
#ISlay
#TheWizLive
We’ve also introduced new words into the American vernacular:
#Bae
#OnFleek
https://twitter.com/PrincessTulaaa/status/711716312750407680
Of course, there will always be those people who just can’t help but co-opt our swag, just taking it too far:
And then there are the times Black Twitter when had us in stitches, making us feel completely OK with the fact that we don’t have cable. I mean, who needs when we have #NoChill, like none whatsoever?
#WasteHisTime2016
#AskRachel
#MemeHistory
https://twitter.com/__Mo/status/706531650218274816/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#GrowingUpBlack
Now if Twitter would allow folks to use more than 140 characters, just think of what else Black Twitter could accomplish?
RELATED LINKS:
Evening Minute: Black Twitter Turns Young African-American Woman Called N-Word Into A Meme
Black Twitter Rules: 10 Reasons Why #MemeHistory Is Giving Us Life
#BlackTwitter Reacts To MTV’s ‘White People’ Documentary
As Twitter Celebrates 10 Years, It’s Really Black Twitter That Changed The Game was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
