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Happy birthday, Twitter!
It has been exactly 10 years since Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was "just setting up my twttr," becoming the first of hundreds of millions of people to do the same. In a decade, Twitter has grown from a five-person startup into a multi-billion dollar public company, and the tweet has grown right along with it.
just setting up my twttr
— Jack (@jack) March 21, 2006
What was once a virtual status update ("eating some cereal") is now a medium for the world’s most important public figures to spout their most important public thoughts. It’s a message that carries links and pictures and GIFs. Tweets can spread hope or heartbreak or fear.
They can also be pretty hilarious. In honor of Twitter’s 10th birthday, we’ve pulled together a collection of "first tweets" from some of the most influential tweeters around. Much like Twitter in general, some are great, some are poor and some just make you go, "huh?"
Enjoy!
Be sure to tune in and watch Donald Trump on Late Night with David Letterman as he presents the Top Ten List tonight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2009
Considering the offensive soundbites The Donald usually creates, this was rather disappointing.
Tis my first twitt-er. Or tweet? Twit? Or tweet?
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 10, 2009
"Twit or tweet everybody." Is this anything?
Much, much better.
Hey guys it's Kim Kardashian! I finally signed up for Twitter! There are a few fakes so just know this is the real me!!!
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 21, 2009
Good to know!
Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account.
— President Obama (@POTUS) May 18, 2015
Also good to know!
Twittering!
— Marc Andreessen (@pmarca) May 10, 2007
A little boring, but it didn’t get him into any trouble.
Today I interviewed a squirrel in my backyard and then threw to commercial. Somebody help me.
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) February 24, 2010
We need to find this interview.
just setting up my twttr
— Biz Stone (@biz) March 21, 2006
Literally one minute behind @jack.
Freemium! When you absolutely, positively have to convert EVERY MOTHERFUCKER in the room! Accept NO substitutes...
— Startup L. Jackson (@StartupLJackson) August 13, 2011
Breaking a 1.5 month blogging embargo from a NYC hotel room
— Chris Sacca (@sacca) September 8, 2006
Thanks for the inspiration @ASmith83 & @Sllambe - I'll take it from here... #tweetsfromhillary
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 10, 2013
And here is a look at the first tweets from Re/code’s staff. A few of these are a little too fitting.
Writing emails.
— Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) May 4, 2007
She still does this!
about to converse w/brooklyn shopkeepers.
— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) December 23, 2006
How to avoid insidious "social engineering" cons.
— Walt Mossberg (@waltmossberg) May 2, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5ka8s9
at work. wondering wtf twitter actually is
— Arik Hesseldahl (@ahess247) March 12, 2007
picked today of all days to start twittering. I've always written short, so I'm thinking 140 characters will be plenty to say whatever I hav
— Ina Fried (@inafried) September 3, 2008
giving Twitter a chance
— Dan Frommer (@fromedome) August 28, 2007
tech story reporting
— Jason Del Rey (@DelRey) May 1, 2008
I'm waiting for my accountant to send my taxes over.
— (((Amy Keyishian))) (@madfoot) October 11, 2007
Antichris #oneletteroffmovies
— Mark Bergen (@mhbergen) October 24, 2009
LA Times writer would love to talk to you about Teen Choice Awards. Please contact dawn.chmielewski@latimescom ASAP @mileycyrus
— Dawn Chmielewski (@DawnC331) August 11, 2009
Miley!
Back with a vengeance! And by "vengeance" I mean a pronounced wariness that Twitter is going to suck up way too much of my time...again.
— Eric Scott Johnson™ (@HeyHeyESJ) September 28, 2011
@schnitzeltruck how bout the Slope sometime?
— Edmund Lee (@edmundlee) August 4, 2009
Huh?
Just got a twitter - now all I need is a follower or two!
— Kurt Wagner (@KurtWagner8) August 21, 2011
Thirsty follower plea. Nice start!
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
