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Twitter at 20: How we lost the public square

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Why This Matters

Twitter's evolution from a simple messaging platform to a major data engine and megaphone for influential figures like Elon Musk highlights its profound impact on public discourse and information dissemination. This shift underscores the importance of understanding how social media platforms shape communication, influence public opinion, and drive technological and societal change.

Key Takeaways

What began as a real-time public forum now functions as a data engine and megaphone for Elon Musk. Twenty years ago, Jack Dorsey changed the world. He opened his phone and sent a message to a new platform he had created: “just setting up my twttr”. That post carries the ID 20. (A post he shared last week has the ID 2032161152470565367—a small detail that captures how dramatically the platform has scaled in the intervening decades.)