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Exploring the Rise and Fall of Twitter: A Documentary Review
Mike Judge’s sitcom Silicon Valley may have missed the mark, as recent revelations show the tech industry more akin to a documentary than a comedy. This perspective is articulated in the CNN film Twitter: Breaking the Bird, a 75-minute exploration of the ascent, decline, and uncertain future of the social media platform that emerged in 2006. The venture was launched by a group of enthusiastic innovators who were fueled by a strong belief in the internet’s potential to enact transformative change. However, as some founders have reflected, this vision may have been overly idealistic.
The original team behind Twitter included Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass. Dorsey conceived of the platform as a space for users to share their thoughts and activities in real-time. Referred to as “microblogging” during its inception, the concept has since faded from common parlance, much like the original notion of blogging itself.
Twitter quickly gained massive traction, particularly as celebrities and public figures discovered its immediacy and the engaging nature of interaction it facilitated. Politicians saw it as a valuable platform for outreach, while activists recognized its potential to galvanize support among a wide array of users.
However, the platform was not without its technical flaws. During what became infamously known as the “fail whale” years, users would encounter charming error messages accompanied by a cartoon whale being lifted by Twitter birds whenever the site experienced outages. According to tech journalist Kara Swisher, during these times, Twitter represented a paradox: “the loudest platform and the saddest little business.” Dorsey was eventually removed as CEO, leading to a leadership change under Dick Costolo, who oversaw a significant revamp of the service.
Five years later, Dorsey returned to Twitter, revitalizing the company with a strong belief in its role as a promoter of free speech. Initially, this philosophy appeared vindicated as Twitter became a key player in movements like Black Lives Matter. However, the platform’s trajectory soon took a darker turn.
Del Harvey, one of the early staff members, was tasked with addressing online abuse but faced resistance in advocating for protective measures. As Leslie Miley, a former engineering manager, noted, the prevailing ideology of absolute free speech reflected a privileged perspective. Despite Harvey’s forewarnings, Twitter was soon overwhelmed by an influx of hate speech. The situation intensified with the arrival of Donald Trump in 2016, whose controversial tweets attracted significant engagement while simultaneously emboldening toxic discourse.
This escalation raised difficult questions about moderation and consequences: Should certain users be banned? What constitutes the limits of free speech? Dorsey’s approach, as Swisher explained, often seemed passive, preferring silence on complex issues over decisive action.
Eventually, mounting challenges led Dorsey to step back as CEO, paving the way for Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. Musk’s promise of unrestricted free speech raised concerns about the platform’s safety and integrity. Rebranded as X, the platform has shifted into what many consider a chaotic environment.
Twitter: Breaking the Bird presents a fascinating narrative—albeit with a straightforward delivery—about the intersection of ambition and naivety that contributed to the platform’s decline. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing young, inexperienced leaders to dictate the future of our digital society without accountability.
Underlying each scene in the documentary is a profound question: Has the internet revealed our darkest tendencies, or has it simply amplified traits that were always present? In seeking answers, audience members may find themselves grappling with whether the current online landscape reflects an extreme segment of humanity or reveals deeper truths about society as a whole.
Though definitive answers elude, one might consider pausing to reflect—much like staring at a finch in a distant locale—for a new perspective.
Twitter: Breaking the Bird premiered on BBC Two and is currently available on BBC iPlayer.
Source
www.theguardian.com