Twitter turns 5!

Happy birthday Twitter!  The hugely popular social network just turned 5-years-old.  On March 21st, 2006 when the first ever tweet was sent into cyberspace, who could have imagined that Twitter was about to change lives, careers…even the world.  Now close to 140 million 140-character Tweets are sent a day – around a billion every 8 days!!

Personally, Twitter is an easy way for me to stay connected with friends and peers in one place, as a journalist it’s become a vital platform for me to send and receive information in an instant, but on a much grander scale it’s astounding to see how the social network is now a global tool for social and political change.

Of course every user has become fond (or opposed) to Twitter for their own reasons, so I thought it might be fun to ask some of our favorite Twitterers exactly how the social network has changed their lives…with the challenge of answering in 140 characters or less, of course!

fionab21
@fionabloom - Publicist/Social Entrepreneur

@fionabloom: “Twitter has changed my life w/being able 2 share, engage & impact lives by giving back 2 the community in Real Time”


@theRealKano Before twitter you could connect with fans with maybe a hand shake in the front row.  Now they spend the whole day with us like friends.
@therealKano - UK Hip Hop/Grime Artist

@theRealKano: “Before twitter you could connect with fans with maybe a hand shake in the front row. Now they spend the whole day with us like friends.”


@Daydog 2 yrs & I still feel new 2 Twitter. It changed my views on friends/celebs & is my news source. Important for brand building/promo & jokes!
@Daydog - Editorial Director, Vibe Magazine

@Daydog: “2 yrs & I still feel new 2 Twitter. It changed my views on friends/celebs & is my news source. Important for brand building/promo & jokes!”


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@JamalSimmons - CBS/CNN Political Contributor

 

@JamalSimmons: “@LeslieSanchez forcibly opened my acct on a #CNN set. Now when there’s breaking news I go to the interweb then straight to the Twitterverse!”


@Chamillionaire: The best thing about Twitter is it has made it a lot easier for me to find out current events in real time as they happen.
@Chamillionaire - Hip Hop Artist

@Chamillionaire: “The best thing about Twitter is it has made it a lot easier for me to find out current events in real time as they happen.”


@MichahJesse - Celebrity Blogger
@MicahJesse - Celebrity Blogger

@MicahJesse “Twitter enables me to share in any way I feel be it good news or just venting bc there are ppl out there who feel the same way at that moment.”


 

@ciphasounds: Twitter is the best invention ever..Link up with old chicks I haven't seen in a while..Like my grandma. Allows me to use LOL excessively.
@CiphaSounds - Hot 97 Radio Personality/Comedian

@ciphasounds: “Twitter is the best invention ever..Link up with old chicks I haven’t seen in a while..Like my grandma. Allows me to use LOL excessively.”


@iamQuddus: I love how Twitter is such an easy platform to see what people are up to and what they're thinking about. It allows you to stay so connected
@iamQuddus - TV Personality

@iamQuddus: “I love how Twitter is such an easy platform to see what people are up to and what they’re thinking about. It allows you to stay so connected”


@rappublicist - music publicist
@rappublicist - Music Publicist

@rappublicist: “Twitter has made it easier to connect on a personal level with my clients’ fans and with editors/bloggers. I love it!”


 

 

 

 

 

 

@LaMarrWoodley - NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
@LaMarrWoodley - NFL Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers

@LaMarrWoodley: “You don’t have to watch ESPN, fans can get info directly from the athlete.  I can report my own stories without someone reporting them for me”


@nelsongeorge - Author/Filmmaker
@nelsongeorge - Author/Filmmaker

@NelsonGeorge: “Twitter has opened up a world of info, links & people that has enriched my contact with and understanding of this rapidly evolving world.”


@DJLoganSama - Radio Personality, Kiss FM (UK)
@DJLoganSama - Radio Personality, Kiss FM (UK)

@DJLoganSama: “Before Twitter I never realized how damn strange some of the fans…and some of the artists I work with actually are.”


 

 

@Fairoza - junior marketing executive
@Fairoza - Junior Marketing Executive

@fairoza: “Discovering new music, sharing experiences, different cultures. Spiritual views and inspirational quotes to get you through the day.”


 

@ChuckCreekmur - founder, Allhiphop.com
@ChuckCreekmur - Founder, Allhiphop.com

 

@ChuckCreekmur: “it has changed my life mostly from a business standpoint in content delivery. Then there are the acts of foolishness!”


 

 

 

 

@Betsy1Jones - Producer, BET News
@Betsy1Jones - Producer, BET News

 

 

 

@betsy1jones: “It’s changing the world – Twitter revolution in Egypt, Japan quake victims used it to contact family, brings attn. to international issues”


 

@ChefPaul10 - celebrity chef
@ChefPaul10 - Celebrity Chef

 

@ChefPaul10: “Split second news, comic relief, educational, global opinions on subject matter. Meeting great ppl. Follown you!”


@AndreShowell - White House Correspondent, BET News
@AndreShowell - White House Correspondent, BET News

 

@AndreShowell: “I have a love-hate relationship with Twitter. Hate it because it means the end of solitude. Love it because it means you’re never alone.”


 

 

 

So there you have it tweethearts!  Here’s to another 5 exciting years for us on Twitter… and trillions more tweets.  Find me at @sharoncarpenter

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COMMENTS (2)

  1. Fiona Bloom
    March 22, 2011

    What a great idea and a great way to acknowledge Twitter and how they’ve changed how we communicate! Looking forward to the next 5 years. Wait a minute….looking to see how we use it in 2012!!!

    Reply
  2. Fairoza
    March 22, 2011

    Great post Sharon! Thanks! Keep on tweeting away :)

    Reply

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