What is Twitter? That is
the question that is running through
everyone’s mind when they hear
about the addicting sensation.
Every time there’s a new
social network everyone wants to
join and be part of it. “Twitter is on
its way to becoming the next killer
app,” as stated in TIME magazine.
First Myspace, then Facebook,
and now Twitter. So the question
is where did Twitter come from?
Jack Dorsey had grown interested
in the simple idea of being
able to know what his friends were
doing. Specifically, Jack wondered
if there might be an opportunity to
build something compelling around
this simple status concept. When he
brought the idea up to his colleagues,
it was decided that a prototype should
be built. Twitter was funded initially
by Obvious, a creative environment
in San Francisco, Calif. The first prototype
was built in two weeks in
March 2006 and launched publicly
in August of 2006. The service
grew popular very quickly
and it soon made sense for Twitter
to move outside of Obvious.
In May 2007, Twitter was f ounded.
Simplicity has played an
important role in Twitter’s success.
People are eager to connect
with other people and Twitter
makes that simple. Twitter asks
one question, “What are you doing?”
Answers must be under 140
characters in length and can be
sent via mobile texting, instant
message, or the Web.
Twitter is now helping
people with different charitable
organizations such as www.malarianomore.
org. Ashton Kutcher
started a Twitter war with
CNN. Whoever made it to one
million followers first, the winner
pledged to donate 10,000
mosquito bed nets to charity for
World Malaria Day (April 25),
and the loser donating 1,000.
Kutcher won and is officially a
bigger twit than CNN.
Demi Moore who is a
movie star by day is a lifesaving
Twittering hero by night. On
April 2, the “G.I. Jane” star received
a frightening tweet from a woman
named ‘Sandieguy.’ “I’m just wondering
if anyone cares that I’m gonna kill
myself now,” she wrote to the star.
Serious or not, her previous messages
that hour-not directed at any
one in particular-showed the Silicon
Valley girl contemplating suicide and
wavering on the decision. Moore immediately
replied, “Hope you are joking,”
sharing the scenario with her
nearly 400,000 followers. The brief
exchange inspired several people to
contact the authorities. The San Jose
police were notified, and the caller
indicated that she had been sending
out messages on Twitter. Officers
were sent to the address. There were
no injuries but officers determined
that the woman fit the criteria to be
brought in for psychiatric evaluation,
which she is currently undergoing.
Who would have thought a simple
application could save a life?
The easy-to-use application
is used for networking, status
updates, saving lives, charitable
causes, promotions, advice from celebrities,
world news, CNN updates
and more. Anyone can join in on the
fun for free. Just go to www.twitter.
com and become a twitterbug.
Prarie View A&M
Tuesday, June 24, 2025