Watch CBS News

Twitter Celebrates Its 7th Birthday

By Jim Melwert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Social media giant Twitter was born seven-years ago today, and with "140 characters or less" it has changed the world.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's started it all when he wrote, "Just setting up my twttr."  Seven years later, the Pope and the President are among the over 500-million users.

But the general breakdown of who relies on Twitter and how they use it seems to go along generational lines.

"I use Twitter as an RSS feed," a man in his 20s said. "You follow people that are linking information, and that's how you get information."

While members of older generations tend to use it a little differently.

"I think it's something new and helps communicate information all over the world. I just never got into putting a lot of personal information out there."

Others never got into the 140 characters-or-less idea:

"I don't see that much value in that sort of short snippets of information. I like it with more analysis, I like it with more thoughts of what I'm reading as opposed to I'm just getting bombarded with headlines at all times."

Twitter's credited with a role in the Arab Spring, but has had it's share of controversy surrounding free speech.

You can follow us @kywnewsradio.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.