Thursday, March 21, 2013

On Its 7th Birthday, Is Twitter Still The ‘Free Speech Party’?

Egyptians use their mobile phones to record celebrations in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the popular revolt that drove Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. Twitter was often used to record happenings during the Arab Spring. Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Egyptians use their mobile phones to record celebrations in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the popular revolt that drove Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. Twitter was often used to record happenings during the Arab Spring. Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

It’s hard to believe but seven years ago no one had every heard of a tweet. Thursday is the anniversary of the first tweet from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. It wasn’t profound. He wrote:

Since then the social media company has been an important communication tool in everything from the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, to its use as a megaphone for celebrities. Over the years, its relationship to its free speech principles has changed.

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Read also:

Twitter turns seven, releases greatest-hits video (CNET)

7 Ways to Celebrate Twitter's 7th Birthday on Twitter (ABC News)

Happy 7th birthday, Twitter! Here are 7 of your biggest moments so far (New York Daily News)

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