Twitter, Inc.

was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which
operated and was named for named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as
X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app
and Periscope livestreaming service. In April 2023, Twitter merged with X Holdings[6] and ceased
to be an independent company, becoming a part of X Corp.[7]
Twitter was created by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams in March 2006
and was launched that July. By 2012, more than 100 million users tweeted 340 million tweets a
day.[8][9] The company went public in November 2013. By 2019, Twitter had more than 330 million
monthly active users.[10]
On April 25, 2022, Twitter agreed to a $44 billion buyout by Elon Musk, CEO
of SpaceX and Tesla, one of the biggest deals to turn a company private.[11][12] On July 8, Musk
terminated the deal.[13] Twitter's shares fell,[14] leading company officials to sue Musk in Delaware's
Court of Chancery on July 12.[15] On October 4, Musk announced his intention to purchase the
company as he had agreed, for $44 billion, or $54.20 a share;[16] the agreement closed on
October 27.
Following Musk's takeover, Twitter was criticized for an increase in hate speech,[17] as well as for
perceived systemic prioritization of right-wing content.[18][19][20][21] His acquisition of the company has
been characterized by large-scale policy changes, mass layoffs and resignations, and a dramatic
shift in the company's work culture.

History[edit]
Main article: History of Twitter

2006–2007: Creation and initial reaction[edit]

A sketch, c. 2006, by Jack Dorsey, envisioning an SMS-

based social network
Twitter's origins lie in a "daylong brainstorming session" held by board members of
the podcasting company Odeo. Jack Dorsey, then an undergraduate student at New York
University, introduced the idea of an individual using an SMS service to communicate with a
small group.[22][23] Work on the project started in February 2006.[24] Dorsey published the first
Twitter message on March 21, 2006, at 12:50 p.m. PST (UTC−08:00): "just setting up my twttr".
[1]
The first Twitter prototype, developed by Dorsey and contractor Florian Weber, was used as an
internal service for Odeo employees.[24] The full version was introduced publicly on July 15, 2006.
[4]
In October 2006, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, Dorsey, and other members of Odeo formed
Obvious Corporation and acquired Odeo, together with its assets—including Odeo.com and
Twitter.com—from the investors and shareholders.[25] Williams fired Glass, who was silent about
his part in Twitter's startup until 2011.[26] Twitter spun off into its own company in April 2007.[27]
The tipping point for Twitter's popularity was the 2007 South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi)
conference. During the event, Twitter usage increased from 20,000 tweets per day to 60,000.
[28]
"The Twitter people cleverly placed two 60-inch plasma screens in the conference hallways,
exclusively streaming Twitter messages," remarked Newsweek's Steven Levy. "Hundreds of
conference-goers kept tabs on each other via constant twitters. Panelists and speakers
mentioned the service, and the bloggers in attendance touted it."[29] Reaction at the conference
was highly positive. Blogger Scott Beale said that Twitter was "absolutely ruling" SXSWi. Social
software researcher danah boyd said Twitter was "owning" the conference.[30]
2007–2022: Growth[edit]
In April 2012, Twitter announced that it was opening an office in Detroit, with the aim of working
with automotive brands and advertising agencies.[31] Twitter also expanded its office in Dublin.
[32]
Twitter hit 100 million monthly active users in September 2011. On December 18, 2012,
Twitter announced it had surpassed 200 million monthly active users.[33]
The company had its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on November 7,
2013.[34]
In September 2016, Twitter shares rose 20% after a report that it had received takeover
approaches.[35] Potential buyers were Alphabet (the parent company of Google),[35] Microsoft,[36][37]
[38]
Salesforce.com,[35][39] Verizon,[39] and The Walt Disney Company.[40][41] Twitter's board of directors
were open to a deal, which could have come by the end of 2016.[35][42] However, no deal was
made, with reports in October stating that all the potential buyers dropped out partly due to
concerns over abuse and harassment on the service.[43][44][45] In June 2017, Twitter revamped its
dashboard to improve the new user experience.[46][47]
In April 2021, Twitter announced that it was establishing its African headquarters in Ghana.[48][49]
In January 2022, Twitter finalized the sale of MoPub to AppLovin. The deal was first announced
in October 2021, and the selling price was reported at $1.05 billion.[50]