16 years ago, then-New York University undergraduate student Jack Dorsey discussed the idea for an online communication service with some of his coworkers at podcasting company, Odeo. On 21 March 2006, Dorsey changed internet history forever with five words: “just setting up my twttr.” It was the first among billions of popular tweets that have since graced the platform.
Fast forward to 2022, Twitter is now nothing more than a kindergarten playground for the richest man on Earth. With every dawn comes a new, controversial feature—which is later scrapped, postponed or even lied about.
Ever since “Chief Twit” Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, it’s safe to say that Twitter is on its last virtual legs, as celebrities and users alike increasingly flee the app stating a surge in hate and bigotry in the name of “free speech.”
With alternatives like Tumblr, Clubhouse, and Mastodon stepping into the spotlight, it’s about time we built a Twitter hall of fame acknowledging all the iconic moments that helped shape the internet as we know it today. From alpha males to Gaga keyboard smash, here are 15 of the best tweets of all time that will help you mourn the dumpster fire of a platform everyone is ditching in 2022.
Spoiler alert for Tesla fanbois: your GOAT god is obviously sitting this list out.
cat churning butter, germany, ca. 12th century pic.twitter.com/gJuxal0Es7
— weird medieval guys (@WeirdMedieval) April 30, 2022
Some tweets simply can’t be explained.
In honour of Ryan Reynolds, the King of Twitter who has now officially migrated to Tumblr.
Happy Birthday to my amazing wife. pic.twitter.com/7vulMXqOdp
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 26, 2017
Tomorrow! You and me got a whole lot of history #10YearsOf1D pic.twitter.com/nwxrm5MSE9
— One Direction (@onedirection) July 22, 2020
friend: how are things?
— keely flaherty (@keelyflaherty) August 25, 2016
me: things are good!
narrator: things were not good
Wanna feel older? This tweet is from 2020.
Hey guys, wanna feel old?
— Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) August 26, 2020
I'm 40.
You're welcome.
My daughter's only 6 months old and already drawing. I'd hang it on the fridge but honestly, it's absolute garbage.
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) June 19, 2015
FYI: I’ve watched this video a sum total of 218 times myself.
Duh😛 pic.twitter.com/3lGmo7GpF6
— 방탄소년단 (@BTS_twt) June 9, 2019
No one can ever articulate their feelings more eloquently than Lady Gaga.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHRHRGRGRGRRRGURBHJB EORWPSOJWPJORGWOIRGWSGODEWPGOHEPW09GJEDPOKSD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0924QU8T63095JRGHWPE09UJ0PWHRGW
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) November 7, 2012
This hasn’t aged well at all…
Always in my heart @Harry_Styles . Yours sincerely, Louis
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) October 2, 2011
My neighbor has an unsecured, wireless printer. I just sent this document to it. pic.twitter.com/dBvSmTpfpp
— Shari VanderWerf (@Shariv67) July 10, 2013
Wait till the incels get their hands on this one.
Growing up, my Muslim family never celebrated Christmas. This year I am not going home, because pandemic, so my roommates are teaching me how to have my first proper Christmas.
— Mohammad Hussain (@MohammadHussain) December 19, 2020
I am approaching this with anthropological precision.
Here are a few observations. pic.twitter.com/1WARv5nax4
Legend says this is how Mariah Carey defrosts before Christmas every year.
Challenge accepted! #bottletopchallenge pic.twitter.com/Rygijd6z5W
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) July 7, 2019
2014 bird app at its best.
We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet.
— CIA (@CIA) June 6, 2014