Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
Social enterprise

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

By Andy Smith March 22, 2011, 11:02 PM PDT

Image
1
of 23

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntHard to believe but on March 31, 2011 Twitter celebrated the fifth anniversary of its first tweet ,on twttr at the time, by co-founder Jack Dorsey.

n

ntAs of today, the average number of tweets has reached 140 million per day – that’s about 1 billion per week – with a high of 177 million on March 11 after the Japanese earthquake disaster.

n

ntFollow ZDNet on Twitter.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntControversy over the first tweet does exist. Many report this as the first tweet by Dorsey but note that this time stamp is 12 minutes later than previous one.

n

ntSome more amazing stats: 572,000 Twitter accounts were created on March 12, 2011 alone. The number of mobile accounts has increased by 182 percent in the past year. The record of tweets per second is 6,939 set in Japan, 4 seconds after midnight on New Year’s Day.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter co-founders Evan Williams (left) and Biz Stone.

n

ntThe word limit of 140 was established because that’s the maximum number of words allowed on a phone text message.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntHere is co-founder Jack Dorsey (left) hanging out with Qik’s Daniel Brusilovsky at iPhone Dev Camp 2 in 2008.

n

ntTwitter had 8 employees in 2006. There are now over 400.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter’s first logo. Twitter was created by Dorsey, Stone and Williams at the podcasting company Odeo. The three plus other Odeo members formed Obvious Corporation to break off Twitter from Odeo in October 2006.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter’s current logos.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntOne of the first “funny tweets” posted by Twitter in 2006.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter’s first baby.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntFirst announced firing on Twiiter (2006).

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntFirst announcement of a Web site launch on Twitter in 2006.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntOne of the first Twitter apps in 2006, the “twadget.”

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntAnother 2006 Twitter app.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntHere’s “Twapp” from 2006.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntA screenshot from Twitter in 2006.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntA recent Twitter app – Twitter for BlackBerry.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter first gained notoriety as a dumb app that let people Tweet anything irrelevant but it has lately been a critical tool for breaking news – from political unrest in Iran, Egypt, Libya and other countries to the spread of information during natural disasters such as the recent Japanese earthquake.

n

ntZack Whittaker even says that Twitter is politicizing today’s youth.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntTwitter rescheduled maintenance time in 2009 to keep lines of communication open during  a crisis in Iran.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntThe Republicans have certainly taken notice with Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntBack to the aimless tweets for Serena Williams.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntMartha Stewart gives critical pie-making tips.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntRachel Zoe gives fashion tips.

Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

ntAnd find out the latest from the San Francisco Zoo.

  • Social enterprise
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet

    Your email has been sent

Share: Gallery: Five years after the first Twitter tweet
Image of Andy Smith
By Andy Smith
  • Account Information

    Contact Andy Smith

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Andy's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×