Twitter at 10: Looking Back at the “Cocaine of Blogging”

The first twt is forever embedded in our minds, with co-founder Jack Dorsey broadcasting a few words, which is probably akin to “Hello World”.

Who would have thought that 10 years later, Twitter would be a dominant force in our lives – both personal and professional? 

Well, some did.

Back then, according to TIME’s Lev Grossman, Twitter was considered as the “cocaine of blogging or e-mail, but refined into crack”. Here’s a snippet of the fascinating piece he wrote about Twitter.

One early front runner for the title of the “YouTube of 2007” is a service called Twitter. Twitter enables you to broadcast to the world at large, via the Web or phone or instant message, tiny snippets of personal information: what you’re doing, what you’re about to do, what you just did, what your cat just did and so on. Twitter does the Internet equivalent of splitting the atom. It creates a unit of content even smaller and more trivial than the individual blog entry. Expect the response to be suitably explosive.

There’s something delightfully self-deprecating about that name, Twitter—we’re all just a bunch of happy birdies, tweeting away in our trees!—but it also makes me nervous. It’s like the cocaine of blogging or e-mail but refined into crack. Internet addiction is an old story, but we’re on the tipping point of a new kind of problem that might more broadly be called an addiction to data, in all its many and splendiferous forms.

Was he right, or was he right?

See Also

So, when did you first start using Twitter? How has it impacted your life?

I’ll end with this. You all received the same thank you email from Twitter as I did, so let me ask you this: Did you expect more from the thank you message, or is it reflective of what Twitter stands for?

twitter 10th anniversary

Proof that Twitter has gone a looong way: How to Get More Twitter Followers

Feeling stuck in self-doubt?

Stop trying to fix yourself and start embracing who you are. Join the free 7-day self-discovery challenge and learn how to transform negative emotions into personal growth.

Join Free Now

Picture of Noemi T

Noemi T

RECENT ARTICLES

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

People who act rich but are actually living paycheck to paycheck usually display these behaviors

People who act rich but are actually living paycheck to paycheck usually display these behaviors

Global English Editing

Controlling or justified? Man’s concerns over girlfriend’s trip with “platonic” friend lead to breakup

Controlling or justified? Man’s concerns over girlfriend’s trip with “platonic” friend lead to breakup

NewsReports

5 zodiac signs that will often rewatch their favorite TV shows and movies

5 zodiac signs that will often rewatch their favorite TV shows and movies

Parent From Heart

5 zodiac signs who can’t go more than five minutes without checking their phone

5 zodiac signs who can’t go more than five minutes without checking their phone

My Inner Creative

7 signs you’re not cut out for parenthood (and why that’s okay)

7 signs you’re not cut out for parenthood (and why that’s okay)

Hack Spirit

People who can cry around others without feeling self-conscious usually possess these 7 unique strengths

People who can cry around others without feeling self-conscious usually possess these 7 unique strengths

Global English Editing