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10 years of Twitter: Key milestones in the micro-blogging site's decade-long history

Over its 10-year history, Twitter has marked numerous world events and created its own unique moments.

Here are a few key milestones in Twitter history:

just setting up my twttr

— Jack (@jack) March 21, 2006


March 2006: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (@jack) sent the first tweet, an automated message saying "just setting up my twttr." That same day, he sent the first live tweet, "inviting coworkers."

Arrested

— James Buck (@jamesbuck) April 10, 2008


April 2008: US university student James Buck (@jamesbuck) got off a one-word tweet "Arrested" after being taken into custody by Egyptian authorities at an anti-government protest in that country. In what is seen as an early demonstration of the power of Twitter to rally people to a cause, the resulting outcry prompted authorities to quickly restore his liberty. He proclaimed his release in a tweet reading "Free."

http://twitpic.com/135xa - There's a plane in the Hudson. I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy.

— Janis Krums (@jkrums) January 15, 2009


January 2009: "There's a plane in the Hudson. I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy." Latvian-American Janis Kums (@jkrums) delivers news of a US Airways jet that crash-landed on the Hudson River in New York, breaking the story ahead of mainstream media outlets.

From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!

— Mike Massimino (@Astro_Mike)May 12, 2009


May 2009: The first tweet from space from astronaut Mike Massimino (@astro_mike): "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!"

2011: The #ArabSpring hashtag takes hold on Twitter, underscoring the importance of the messaging platform in pro-democracy uprisings starting in Tunisia.

Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event).

— Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) May 1, 2011


May 2011: "Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event)." IT consultant Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) unknowingly tweets about US Navy Seals raiding a nearby home in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding. Bin Laden was killed during the operation.

Four more years.pic.twitter.com/bAJE6Vom

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama)November 7, 2012


November 2012: President Barack Obama (@BarackObama) tweets "Four more years" to proclaim his re-election victory along with a picture of him and his wife, Michelle, hugging. The post was the most shared tweet at that time.

Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. 
Pope Francis.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 17, 2013


December 2012: Pope Benedict XVI launched the first papal Twitter account (@pontifex), which was continued by his successor, Pope Francis. The first message was "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscarspic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow)March 3, 2014


March 2014: A picture tweeted live from the Oscars ceremony by Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) with Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt and taken by Bradley Cooper is retweeted more than three million times, a record: "If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars"

We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet.

— CIA (@CIA) June 6, 2014


June 2014: The Central Intelligence Agency (@cia) shows a sense of humor: "We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet."

I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me.

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner)June 1, 2015


June 2015: Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) makes her new transgender identity public: "I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me." The message is retweeted more than 250,000 times.

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