AI Generated Image
From Twitter to X: 20 Years of Memes, Movements and Hot Takes
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Twitter, launched publicly on July 15, 2006, quickly became a global platform for communication, allowing users to share brief messages, originally limited to 140 characters and later expanded to 280.
- The platform, renamed X in 2023, served as a vital space for political leaders, activists, and everyday users to express opinions, share news, and mobilize movements such as the #MeToo campaign and protests in Iran.
- Early on, Twitter introduced hashtags to improve searchability, with #uknowurblackwhen in 2009 marking the emergence of "Black Twitter," a significant cultural and social phenomenon highlighting Black experiences online.
- Over two decades, Twitter evolved into a powerful tool for both entertainment and serious discourse, influencing politics, social movements, and public conversations worldwide.
