News and Insights
20 Years of Twitter/X
March 19, 2026
It started as a side project called “twttr”—an SMS-based status updater. There were no hashtags, no retweets and no business model. Just raw, chronological thoughts in 140 characters.
In brief
- It is 20 years since the first tweet was sent on 21 March 2006
- Social media has experienced many ups and downs over two decades
- To recognise 20 years of Twitter/X, FINN Partners Digital Marketing presents 20 years of the feed – a fascinating, interactive timeline.
21 March 2006: the first tweet
It is twenty years since Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey sent the first tweet on 21 March 2006. To recognise this milestone, FINN Partners Digital Marketing has put together 20 years of the feed, an interactive timeline that charts the ups, downs and much else of the influential social media platform that started with a single tweet.
Twitter/X 2006-present day
20 years of the feed is a fascinating, interactive insight into the past 20 years of tweets/posts
Twitter history timeline
It has been quite the journey—lawsuits, leadership turmoil, not to mention one of the biggest rebrands of recent times.
Away from the boardroom, we’ve witnessed tweeting from space, the first photo of the US Airways plane forced to come down on the Hudson River and the celebrity who raced CNN to become the first account to reach one million followers (no spoilers but he won).
Over time, Twitter/X established itself as a global utility for breaking news, a significant advertising business and a credible real-time brand marketing channel. Controversy and arguments, not least over algorithms, AI and free speech, have stalked its every move.
Twitter/X: key milestones
Love it or loathe it, you can’t ignore it. Explore 20 years of Twitter/X through 20 years of the feed.
And if you enjoy our Twitter/X timeline, why not get in touch? Our talented team of creative digital marketers is ready to discuss your campaign needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Twitter launch?
The first tweet was sent on 21 March 2006.
Who sent the first tweet and what was it?
Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey sent the world’s first tweet. It simply read: “just setting up my twttr”.
When did Twitter become X?
Twitter was rebranded to X on 23 July 2023. This interactive timeline, 20 years of the feed, has many more Twitter/X milestones to recall.
POSTED BY: Daniel Cupidi
