How Twitter's History Has Influenced Communication

It wasn't too long ago when there weren't any social networks. Now it seems as though they are everywhere. One of the largest social networks that has been used by everyone from content marketing companies and individuals in Utah to news companies and politicians in Europe is Twitter. However, it might be surprising to learn that March 2016 marks Twitter's 10-year anniversary; here's a look back on the company's history. 

Significant Contributions

While it is true that social media has been been revolutionizing, Twitter has had several unique contributions to the way people communicate. For example, in 2007 the first hashtag debuted on Twitter; it was created by a man named Chris Messina who simply asked "how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?" From that simple message everyone from content marketing companies, politicians, night talk show hosts to people everywhere have utilized hashtags. 

Another significant way Twitter has revolutionized the way communication happens is through the way it distributes information. In 2009 a passenger airplane made an emergency landing in the Hudson River. Before any of the news organizations knew what had happened, photos surfaced on Twitter alerting the public to the incident. 

Bridging the Gap

Twitter has also bridged the gap between celebrities and public officials. Many times when there is communication from people who are in the public eye, it comes from either a spokesperson or a publicist. However, with Twitter, many times people will actually reach the celebrity or public icon whose name is on the account. This makes celebrities and others seem closer to the public than they have been in the past. 

In Utah and across the world it is hard to ignore the social media revolution. It has changed everything from how content marketing companies and advertising agencies distribute messages to presidential campaigns. With Twitter's 2016 algorithm change, it might even change how people perceive social media. 

Ryan Muir writes for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. He writes for many other clients as well. Follow on Twitter.