

A Million Different Twitters
48 snips Nov 1, 2023
This podcast explores how Twitter became both the best and worst place on the internet. It discusses the creation of features like retweets and hashtags, the power of communities like Black Twitter, and the challenges of harassment and online abuse. The episode also delves into the evolution of user behaviors and the controversies surrounding Twitter's block and mute features.
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Brazilian Fans Overwhelm Trends
- Brazilian teenage girls on Twitter created massive volumes of tweets directed at Justin Bieber.
- Their enthusiasm overwhelmed trending topics, forcing Twitter to adjust its algorithm to filter repeated content.
Twitter Boost Leads to TV Writing
- Bess Calb's humorous tweets gained sudden popularity after comedian Rob Delaney's shoutout.
- This Twitter fame led to real-world opportunities, including a job writing for Jimmy Kimmel.
Twitter Flattens Hierarchies
- Twitter flattened professional fields like economics by enabling direct conversations across hierarchical lines.
- This openness allowed lesser-known economists to engage influential figures publicly and personally.