X, officially known as Twitter until 2023, is a social networking service and one of the largest and most-visited social media platforms in the world. It allows users to share short text messages, images, and videos in posts called "tweets" (officially referred to as "posts"). Users can engage with content by liking, sharing, or replying to other users' posts. Additional features of the platform include direct messaging, video and audio calling, bookmarks, lists, communities, a chatbot named Grok, job search, and Spaces, a social audio feature. The Community Notes feature allows users to vote on content added by approved contributors.

History of X (formerly Twitter)

2006–2021

Formerly	Twitter (2006–2023)
Type of site	Social networking service
Available in	Multilingual
Founded	March 21, 2006; 18 years ago, in San Francisco, California, U.S.
Headquarters	Bastrop, Texas, United States
Area served	Worldwide, except blocking countries
Owner	Odeo (March–October 2006) Obvious Corporation (2006–2007) Twitter, Inc. (2007–2023) X Corp. (2023–present)
Founder(s)	Jack Dorsey Noah Glass Biz Stone Evan Williams
Chairman	Elon Musk
Registration	Required
Launched	July 15, 2006; 18 years ago
Current status	Active

X, initially known as Twitter, was conceived by Jack Dorsey in 2006, who envisioned a service where users could communicate with a small group through SMS (Short Message Service). The original project was named Twttr, inspired by the five-character length of American SMS short codes and the success of Flickr. The team behind Twitter, including Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, initially launched the service as Twttr in March 2006, later purchasing the domain twitter.com and changing the name to Twitter in 2007.

The first version of the platform was developed by Dorsey and contractor Florian Weber, initially as an internal service for employees of Odeo, a podcasting company. The public launch of Twitter occurred on July 15, 2006. By October 2006, the founding members of Odeo formed Obvious Corporation and acquired Odeo, ultimately spinning Twitter into its own company in April 2007.

Twitter gained notable momentum during the 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, where usage surged from 20,000 tweets per day to 60,000. In 2009, Twitter won the Webby Award for "Breakout of the Year." By 2010, Twitter's growth continued, with users sending 50 million tweets per day. In 2012, Twitter reached 140 million users, with daily tweets reaching 340 million. Later, the platform saw substantial mobile usage, with 60% of tweets coming from mobile devices by 2013.

The platform underwent several redesigns, notably in 2010 with the introduction of New Twitter, featuring improved media support (such as displaying pictures and videos without leaving the platform). By the end of 2015, Twitter's growth slowed, and its user base stagnated for a period.

In 2021, Twitter launched a series of new features, including Twitter Spaces (a social audio feature), super follows (exclusive content subscriptions), and ticketed Spaces (paid access to specific audio rooms). It also initiated Bluesky, an open-source, decentralized social media protocol, and introduced a visual redesign with the Chirp font.

2022–Present: Acquisition by Elon Musk and Rebranding to X

In October 2022, Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter, buying the platform for $44 billion. Musk assumed the role of CEO but later stepped down in June 2023, appointing Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO. Despite Yaccarino's appointment, significant changes to the platform were attributed to Musk's vision, including the rebranding of Twitter to X in July 2023.

The rebranding was a part of Musk's vision to transform the platform into an "everything app," similar to WeChat. X offers features such as text posts, images, and videos, along with direct messaging, video and audio calling, bookmarks, lists, communities, and Spaces. In 2024, the platform's domain name was changed from twitter.com to x.com, cementing its new identity.

Under Musk’s leadership, X introduced long-form texts, account monetization options, and integration with Grok, an AI chatbot from xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence company. The platform also revamped its verification system, transitioning it into a paid subscription service. However, several features from the Twitter era, including Circles, NFT profile pictures, and pronouns in profiles, were removed.

Since the rebranding, X has faced significant controversy. Issues surrounding the release of the Twitter Files, the suspension of journalists' accounts, and the labeling of media outlets as "state-affiliated" sparked widespread criticism. The platform has also been criticized for issues related to the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and antisemitism. Despite these challenges, X continues to evolve, attempting to balance innovation with the need for greater moderation and accountability.

Tweets and User Interactions

Tweets are publicly visible by default, though senders can restrict their visibility to followers. Users have the ability to mute accounts, block users, and manage their followers. Interaction options include liking, retweeting, quoting, and replying to tweets. Features such as hashtags and mentions (using the "@" symbol) help categorize and link content. Over time, Twitter has increased its character limits, moving from 140 characters to 280, with options for longer tweets for Twitter Blue subscribers. Multimedia content, such as images, videos, and polls, can be attached to tweets. Additionally, Twitter introduced a URL shortening service (t.co) and an integrated photo-sharing service.

Multimedia Content

Twitter has focused on expanding multimedia features, including live streaming events like NFL games and political conventions. Twitter Spaces enables users to engage in live audio conversations. The platform also tested and eventually discontinued "fleets," a 24-hour disappearing story format.

Trends and Topics

Twitter's "trends" feature highlights popular or notable topics, with algorithmic lists that sometimes reflect manipulation campaigns. Lists help organize content by specific themes, and Moments allows users to curate tweets into collections.

Twitter Blue and Premium Features

In 2021, Twitter launched the Twitter Blue subscription, which provides premium features, including verification and the ability to post longer content. This was later rebranded as

 X Premium in 2023, offering additional benefits such as an ad-free experience and higher engagement with followers. Subscription services like Super Follows and Tip Jar allow users to monetize their content through subscriptions or tips.

E-Commerce Features

Twitter has tested and integrated various e-commerce features, including the "Buy button" from 2014 to 2017 and a "Shop module" for showcasing products in 2021. The platform has also explored "shoppable" live streams and partnerships with brands for selling products directly through the app.

Algorithm and Mobile App

Twitter’s machine-learning algorithms personalize users' timelines by highlighting relevant content based on previous interactions. Mobile apps for various platforms, including a lightweight version called Twitter Lite, cater to users in regions with slower internet connections.

This overview encapsulates how Twitter evolved into a feature-rich platform, supporting user interaction, multimedia content, and commerce.

Usage

Twitter's user base grew significantly over the years, with varying estimates and reports on its active users. In 2009, it was ranked as the third most-used social network, with 6 million unique monthly visitors. By 2017, the platform had 328 million users globally. As of 2023, Elon Musk reported that Twitter had 500 million monthly active users, with growth projections reaching 600 million by mid-2024.

Demographics

Early Demographics: In 2009, Twitter was mainly used by older adults who were not active on other social media platforms. A 2009 study showed 11% of Twitter's users were aged 12–17.

Gender and Age Distribution: A 2009 study revealed that women made up 53% of Twitter’s demographic, and 63% of users were under 35 years old. Twitter had a significant portion of African American (16%) and Hispanic (11%) users compared to other internet platforms. The 2016 Pew Research poll showed Twitter was popular among younger adults (36% of 18-29-year-olds), with the median age of U.S. users being 40 by 2019.

Growth Over Time: By 2011, Twitter had 100 million monthly active users, growing to 255 million by 2014, and more than 330 million by early 2019. In 2019, it was found that 10% of the most active users were responsible for 80% of all tweets.

Content

Categories of Content: A study in August 2009 by Pear Analytics categorized tweets as:

• Pointless Babble (40%)
• Conversational (38%)
• Pass-along Value (9%)
• Self-promotion (6%)
• Spam (4%)
• News (4%)

Interpretation of Content: While Jack Dorsey described Twitter as a platform for “short bursts of inconsequential information,” researcher danah boyd suggested that “pointless babble” should be seen as social grooming or maintaining peripheral awareness. This includes staying informed about what others are doing, thinking, or feeling.

Levels of Use

Inactive Users: Around 44% of user accounts on Twitter have never tweeted, according to a study published in April 2014. In 2009, 40% of users abandoned the platform after a month, with only 10% of internet users potentially engaged with Twitter.

Media Narratives: There has been criticism over media treating Twitter as representative of the broader population. The platform’s demographics were not reflective of the U.S. population, and many users tweet very infrequently. By 2016, 90% of users had tweeted no more than twice, and in 2021, Twitter settled a lawsuit related to user engagement.

User Engagement

Measuring Engagement: Engagement on Twitter is measured through likes, replies, and reposts. A 2023 study found that retweets are typically positive and directed at larger audiences, often using the first-person pronoun “we.” On the other hand, replies tend to involve more negative content and engage directly with individuals using second-person or third-person pronouns.

Influencers vs. Regular Users: Influencers, with large followings, often post positive messages, frequently using terms like "love" to address broader audiences. Regular users, especially those with fewer followers, tend to engage in more personal conversations, often focusing on specific interactions to provoke engagement.

Branding

Before its rebranding to X, Twitter was widely recognized by its iconic bird logo, known as the Twitter Bird. Here's a timeline of Twitter's logo evolution:

Original Logo (2006–2009)

When Twitter launched in March 2006, the platform's logo was simply the word "Twitter," accompanied by an image of a bird. The bird used was later discovered to be clip art created by British graphic designer Simon Oxley.

Larry the Bird (2009–2012)

In 2009, Twitter redesigned its logo, creating a more cartoonish bird. This bird, known as "Larry the Bird," was named after NBA legend Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. The design

 was a more distinct version of the earlier bird image.

Simplified Larry the Bird (2010–2012)

A further redesign took place in 2010, resulting in a more refined silhouette of "Larry the Bird" with the cartoonish features removed. This silhouette remained the logo until 2012.

Twitter Bird (2012–2023)

In 2012, a final redesign by Douglas Bowman simplified the bird into a shape resembling a mountain bluebird. This was the version widely recognized as the Twitter Bird, used until July 2023.

Rebranding to X (2023–Present)

On July 22, 2023, Elon Musk announced that Twitter would be rebranded to X as part of his vision to create an "everything app." The new logo, a bold X, replaced the iconic bird image. This change received mixed reactions, with critics arguing that the rebranding "wiped out" Twitter's established brand value, and some even calling it "desperate." Users responded with a surge of negative reviews on the iOS App Store.

Finances

Twitter's revenue model has evolved significantly over time, with various methods for generating income:

Revenue Sources

Promoted Tweets (2010–2011): On April 13, 2010, Twitter introduced paid advertising through promoted tweets. Businesses could purchase tweets that appeared in selective search results, similar to Google’s AdWords.

Royalty-Free Revenue (2011): In 2011, Twitter began generating additional revenue by allowing users’ photos to generate royalty-free revenue, in partnership with the World Entertainment News Network (WENN).

Self-Service Advertising (2012–2013): In 2012, Twitter launched a self-service advertising platform for small businesses, and by 2013, it was available to all U.S. users without an invite. Promoted tweets and accounts became the primary ad products.

Instant Unlock Card (2016): In August 2016, Twitter launched the Instant Unlock Card, allowing users to tweet about a brand to earn rewards. It also introduced conversational ads, which featured customizable hashtags and call-to-action buttons.

Advertising Bans

Twitter has implemented several advertising bans over the years, particularly to address political and misinformation issues:

Bans on Russian Media (2017)

In October 2017, Twitter banned Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik from advertising due to their role in interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Russian foreign ministry criticized the ban as a violation of free speech.

Political Ad Ban (2019)

In October 2019, Twitter announced it would stop running political ads to prevent the spread of misinformation. CEO Jack Dorsey explained that political ads posed significant risks, as they could influence critical political decisions. However, this ban was reversed in August 2023, and new criteria were introduced to govern political advertising.

Climate Change Misinformation (2022)

In April 2022, Twitter imposed a ban on misleading advertisements related to climate change. The company stated that decisions would be based on "authoritative sources" like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Fines

Twitter has faced significant fines for non-compliance with various laws:

• FTC and DOJ Fine (2022): On May 25, 2022, Twitter was fined $150 million by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for improperly collecting users' contact details and using them for targeted advertising.

Technology

Twitter has evolved significantly in terms of its technology stack, implementing a mix of open-source software, custom-built solutions, and improvements to its infrastructure.

Implementation

Twitter's tech stack relies heavily on open-source software. Initially, it used the Ruby on Rails framework for its web interface, deployed on a performance-enhanced Ruby Enterprise Edition implementation. Early in Twitter’s development, it utilized MySQL databases, but as traffic grew, the system was re-engineered to handle the scale.

From 2007 to 2008, Twitter used Starling, a Ruby-based persistent queue server, for managing tweets. By 2009, Twitter began transitioning to Scala to handle more traffic, which resulted in a significant performance improvement, increasing requests per second per host from 200–300 to 10,000–20,000.

In 2011, Twitter transitioned its search functionality away from Ruby on Rails to a Java-based system called Blender. Tweets are given unique IDs called snowflakes, and they pass through various processes for storage and geolocation before being made available on search engines via Twitter's Firehose API.

In 2013, Twitter set a record by processing 143,000 tweets per second. This was achieved through a mix of homegrown and open-source technologies.

API and Developer Platform

Twitter’s API has been a cornerstone of its growth, being one of the most open and widely adopted in the tech industry. It was first launched in September 2006, and it rapidly became a reference point for public REST APIs. This allowed developers to integrate Twitter’s functionality into their own apps and services, leading to a flourishing developer ecosystem.

• Early Growth (2006–2010): Developers built mobile clients and URL shorteners. Twitter's API had a positive reputation during these years.
• API Restrictions (2010–2012): However, in 2010, Twitter imposed mandatory OAuth authentication and began competing with third-party developers by launching its own URL shortener. By 2012, stricter API usage limits were imposed, significantly reducing third-party developers' ability to build on Twitter’s platform. This led to frustration within the developer community.

In 2020, Twitter released version 2.0 of its public API, and in 2022, began promoting third-party Twitter apps through its Twitter Toolbox. However, in 2023, Twitter ended third-party access to its APIs, which led to the shutdown of several well-known apps, including Twitterrific.

Innovator's Patent Agreement

In April 2012, Twitter introduced the Innovator’s Patent Agreement (IPA), committing to use its patents solely for defensive purposes. This was a step to foster innovation and prevent the use of patents for aggressive litigation.

Open Source

Twitter has been both a consumer and a contributor to open-source software. It has released several key technologies:

• Gizzard – A framework for building distributed data stores.
• FlockDB – A distributed graph database.
• Finagle – A library for building asynchronous RPC systems.
• TwUI – A user interface framework for iOS.
• Bower – A client-side package manager.

Additionally, Twitter was the origin of the popular Bootstrap frontend framework, which remains one of the most widely used frameworks on GitHub.

In March 2023, Twitter released its recommendation algorithm’s source code to GitHub, marking a shift toward more transparency. However, a subsequent security breach led to the removal of the source code.

Interface

Twitter has gone through several redesigns to improve the user experience:

• September 2010: The first major redesign introduced a dual-pane layout and multimedia embedding.
• 2011-2012: The layout was further refined, adding the "Connect" and "Discover" tabs and making updates to the profile design.
• 2012-2015: Introduced support for right-to-left languages and expanded to 34 languages by 2023.
• 2019-2023: Twitter migrated to a three-column layout for a more unified web and mobile experience.

Security

Over the years, Twitter has faced several security breaches, leading to regulatory action and enhanced security measures:

FTC Charges (2010): The Federal Trade Commission charged Twitter for its security lapses, marking the first action against a social network for such issues. Twitter was required to implement a comprehensive information security program.

Two-Factor Authentication (2013): To combat hacking, Twitter introduced two-factor authentication.

High-Profile Hack (2020): In July 2020, Twitter experienced a significant security breach that compromised 130 high-profile accounts, including those of Barack Obama and Bill Gates. The hack was executed through social engineering techniques and resulted in Bitcoin scams.

Data Breach (2022): A bug introduced in 2021 allowed attackers to link email addresses and phone numbers to Twitter accounts. This bug led to the compilation of over 5.4 million user profiles, which were later sold.

Outages

During outages, users were often shown the fail whale error image. The "fail whale," designed by Yiying Lu, depicted eight birds lifting a whale from the ocean with a caption that read, "Too many tweets! Please wait a moment and try again." The term "fail whale" was coined by Jen Simmons in 2007. Though Twitter's stability improved over time, outages were more common during high-traffic events in the platform's early years.

This section provides a detailed overview of Twitter's policies and events related to user accounts, verification, and privacy.

Verified Accounts:

• Launched in 2009 to address issues of impersonation (e.g., by Kanye West and Tony La Russa).
• Verification includes a blue checkmark and indicates that Twitter has confirmed the authenticity of the account.
• In 2016, Twitter introduced public verification applications, granting verified status to accounts deemed of public interest.
• After Elon Musk's acquisition in 2022, verification became part of the paid Twitter Blue service, causing the removal of the previous verification system.
• The "Official" marker was introduced for high-profile accounts (e.g., government and commercial entities) to help prevent impersonation.

Privacy:

• Tweets are public by default, but users can make their accounts "protected," limiting visibility to approved followers.
• Twitter collects personal data and shares it with third parties, including for targeted advertising.
• Data privacy measures have included notifying users of law enforcement requests and making updates to comply with regional laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.
• Controversies over data usage, such as the unauthorized use of phone numbers for targeted advertising, led to a fine in 2022.
• Twitter has also been involved in content moderation and data protection efforts, including efforts to remove harmful content or provide more context for potentially misleading information.

This overview outlines Twitter's evolving approach to privacy, user data, and account verification, including the shift toward paid verification and the company's ongoing adjustments in response to privacy concerns and regulatory actions.

Governments and Political Issues

Twitter has been involved in various controversies related to government activities, disinformation campaigns, and censorship. According to documents leaked by Edward Snowden in 2014, the United Kingdom's GCHQ used tools such as BIRDSONG for automated Twitter updates and BIRDSTRIKE for monitoring and profile collection on the platform.

In 2019-2020, during the Hong Kong protests, Twitter suspended a network of accounts linked to the Chinese government for engaging in a disinformation campaign. Similarly, in June 2020, Twitter suspended over 7,000 accounts in Turkey that were found to be fake profiles supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, prompting accusations from the Turkish government of political bias. Twitter also faced scrutiny in India when it labeled a tweet from the BJP's Sambit Patra as "manipulated media," which led to police raids on Twitter's offices in 2021 and the Indian government accusing the platform of failing to comply with local IT rules.

In addition to these issues, a Reuters report revealed that the United States had used Twitter to spread disinformation about the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, targeting populations in the Philippines with false claims about the vaccine's contents.

Pornographic Content and Child Exploitation

Twitter allows adult content as long as it is marked as "sensitive," which restricts access for minors. The platform has been a space for performers to promote adult content, often using Twitter as a tool to drive traffic to subscription services like OnlyFans. However, in 2022, Twitter's internal reports highlighted challenges in detecting and managing child sexual exploitation (CSE) content. Twitter faced significant criticism for not adequately addressing the growing issue of CSE on its platform, with some brands pulling their advertisements in protest.

Emergency Use and Education

Twitter is also recognized for its use in emergency communication. Its real-time functionality has made it a valuable tool during natural disasters, epidemics, and other crises. The platform is increasingly studied for its potential to track the spread of diseases and provide immediate updates during events like earthquakes and bushfires.

In education, Twitter has been adopted as a communication tool in academic settings, particularly in universities. It has been used to facilitate student interactions, promote informal learning, and engage students in classroom discussions. Hashtags, such as "edchat," have been particularly effective in creating collaborative educational communities.

Public Figures and Political Communication

Twitter has become a powerful tool for public figures and political leaders. Notable political figures, including heads of state and ambassadors, have used the platform for diplomacy and to engage with both domestic and international audiences. Studies have found that many world leaders use Twitter to communicate directly with the public, bypassing traditional media channels.

Censorship and Moderation

Twitter has faced criticism for its role in censorship and content moderation. The platform has been intermittently blocked in several countries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, for various reasons. It has also cooperated with governments like Israel to remove specific content from its platform. Additionally, countries such as Turkey, Russia, and India have made significant demands for Twitter to remove accounts or content deemed politically sensitive. Despite this, Twitter has also been used to circumvent censorship, with tools like Tor onion services allowing users in restricted regions to access the platform.

Court Cases, Lawsuits, and Adjudication

Twitter Inc. v. Taamneh (2022–2023)

In the 2022-2023 U.S. Supreme Court term, Twitter Inc. v. Taamneh was heard alongside Gonzalez v. Google. Both cases concerned whether internet content providers should be held liable for terrorism-related content posted by users. In the Taamneh case, the question was whether social media companies like Twitter could be held responsible under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 for user-generated terrorism content, and whether such content falls outside Section 230 protections. The Court ruled in May 2023 that Twitter and other companies were not liable under the Antiterrorism Act, and did not address the Section 230 issue. This ruling also influenced the Gonzalez case, which was returned to a lower court for further review in light of the Taamneh decision.

Doris Shenwick v. Twitter (2016)

In 2016, Twitter shareholder Doris Shenwick filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that Twitter executives misled investors about the company's growth prospects. In 2021, Twitter reached a settlement in which it agreed to pay $809.5 million to resolve the lawsuit.

Twitter v. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (2022)

In May 2022, Twitter settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for $150 million. The lawsuit alleged that Twitter had improperly used users' email addresses and phone numbers to target advertisements. As part of the settlement, Twitter also agreed to undergo third-party audits of its data privacy practices.

Twitter Employees' Lawsuit (2022)

On November 3, 2022, a group of Twitter employees based in San Francisco and Cambridge filed a lawsuit against the company in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The lawsuit accused Twitter of violating federal and state laws, particularly the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, by failing to provide adequate notice before laying off employees. The suit specifically referenced California's state WARN Act and sought redress for improper termination practices.

Twitter v. Media Matters (2023)

On November 20, 2023, Twitter filed a defamation lawsuit against Media Matters, a media watchdog group. The lawsuit stemmed from a report published by Media Matters, which alleged that Twitter had allowed advertisements for major brands to appear alongside posts promoting Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Twitter accused Media Matters of spreading false information and defamation.

X v. Advertisers (2024)

On August 6, 2024, X (formerly Twitter) filed an antitrust lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas against several major advertisers, including Unilever, Mars, CVS, and Ørsted. The lawsuit alleged that these companies, through their participation in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, had conspired to withhold advertising revenue from the platform. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media, established in 2019, aims to address harmful content in digital media and its monetization via advertising.

Gary Rooney v. Twitter (2024)

On August 13, 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled in favor of former senior staffer Gary Rooney in an unfair dismissal case against Twitter. The Commission ordered Twitter to pay €550,000 in compensation. The case stemmed from Twitter's argument that Rooney had resigned when he failed to check "yes" in response to an email from Elon Musk, which Twitter claimed signified resignation. The ruling determined that the dismissal was unjustified.

Record Tweets

Most Retweeted Tweet

One of the most iconic tweets of all time was the selfie orchestrated by host Ellen DeGeneres during the 86th Academy Awards broadcast on March 2, 2014. This selfie, featuring twelve celebrities, quickly broke the record for the most retweeted image, surpassing the previous record within forty minutes and reaching over 1.8 million retweets in the first hour.

On May 9, 2017, Ellen’s record was broken by Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm), whose tweet asking for free chicken nuggets amassed nearly 3.5 million retweets in just over a month. Later, in January 2019, Yusaku Maezawa broke this record by announcing a giveaway, which gained 4.4 million retweets. A similar tweet he made in December 2019 also earned significant attention, gathering 3.8 million retweets.

Most Tweeted Moment

The most tweeted moment in Twitter's history occurred on August 2, 2013, when fans of the Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky tweeted the word "balse" (バルス)—the incantation for a destruction spell during the film's climax. The simultaneous tweets during a Japanese television airing of the film peaked at 143,199 tweets per second, breaking the previous record of 33,388 tweets per second.

Most Discussed Event

The most discussed event in Twitter history occurred on October 24, 2015, with the hashtag "#ALDubEBTamangPanahon" related to a live special episode of the Filipino variety show Eat Bulaga! centered around the on-air couple AlDub. The event attracted a record-breaking 41 million tweets.

Most Discussed Sporting Event

The most-discussed sporting event in Twitter history was the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany on July 8, 2014. This event generated an unprecedented volume of tweets, reflecting its massive global impact.

Fastest to Reach a Million Followers

According to Guinness World Records, the fastest to reach one million followers on Twitter was actor Robert Downey Jr., who achieved this milestone in 23 hours and 22 minutes in April 2014. However, this record was surpassed by Caitlyn Jenner, who joined Twitter on June 1, 2015, and reached one million followers in just 4 hours and 3 minutes.

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