20 Years After Twitter’s Launch, Black Twitter’s Influence Endures

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A Twitter app icon on a mobile phone is displayed in Philadelphia, U.S.A., April 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
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(AURN News) — Twenty years ago today, Twitter launched to the public.

Co-founded by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone and Evan Williams, the platform transformed how people received breaking news, followed politics and communicated during major events.

Twitter became the real-time pulse of the internet, and Black Twitter emerged as one of its most influential communities.

Black users turned the platform into a digital community where humor, language, politics and culture shaped public conversation.

Twitter has changed dramatically since Elon Musk purchased the company in 2022. He renamed the platform X, dismantled its previous verification system, reduced content moderation and transformed its culture.

Much of Black Twitter has dispersed across other platforms, but its influence remains undeniable.

Black users didn’t just participate on Twitter. Black users helped make Twitter a cultural milestone.


Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

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