Overview
Twitter is a microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and retweet tweets, but unregistered users can only read them. Users access Twitter through its website interface or its mobile-device application software ("app"), though the service could also be accessed via SMS before April 2020. Twitter, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California, and has more than 25 offices around the world. Tweets were originally restricted to 140 characters, but the limit was doubled to 280 for non-CJK languages in November 2017.
History
Twitter was created by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams in March 2006 and launched in July of that year. By 2012, more than 100 million users posted 340 million tweets a day, and the service handled an average of 1.6 billion search queries per day. In 2013, it was one of the ten most-visited websites and has been described as "the SMS of the Internet". As of 2018, Twitter had more than 321 million monthly active users.
Features
Twitter's interface is characterized by short, quick, and frequent messages. This has led to it being used in various ways, from a real-time information network to a communication system between friends. The service has a variety of features including the Tweet, Retweet, Like, and Hashtag. Twitter also allows users to "follow" other users, creating a network of connections that can be used to receive and distribute information.
Impact
Twitter has been used for a variety of purposes in many industries and scenarios. For example, it has been used to organize protests, sometimes referred to as "Twitter Revolutions", which include the 2011 Egyptian revolution, 2011 Iranian protests, 2011 Tunisian revolution, and 2011 Syrian uprising. It has also been used for live event feeds, and for direct communication with customers.
Criticism and Controversy
Twitter has faced criticism for a variety of reasons including its handling of online harassment, and content that some users find objectionable. It has also been criticized for its role in spreading fake news and propaganda during elections. The company has made several updates to its platform to address these issues, but some critics argue that more needs to be done.