The Origins of Twitter and its Impact on Culture and Politics

Twitter began as a side project named 'status' and morphed into a real-time information-sharing platform. It was seen as a means for ordinary people to express themselves and follow the lives of friends and celebrities. However, the struggle to attract and retain users became apparent, as Twitter was challenging to use and required effort to curate a personalized feed. The platform sought growth and attempted to emulate Facebook's success, but faced significant challenges in generating revenue through advertising due to its inability to target intentful behavior. Twitter also missed out on acquiring Instagram, which would have positioned it well in the photo-sharing space. Despite these obstacles, Twitter's impact on culture and politics cannot be denied, as it became a hub for sharing information and mobilizing movements. It played a significant role in events such as protests in Iran, and its influence on democracy and freedom of speech is still relevant today.