Twitter: Breaking the Bird shows how the internet's hottest website grew into a social media skip fire
Some tweets age better than others. For example, Jack Dorsey 's tweet, posted after he'd agreed to sell his social media platform, Twitter, to Elon Musk in 2022 hasn't really stood the test of time. 'Elon is the singular solution I trust', he wrote. Musk repaid that trust by symbolically slaughtering Dorsey's little blue bird and replacing it with a literal and metaphorical iron cross. In just over two years, he's turned a flawed but fascinating experiment in human communication into a rancid cyber-sewer, littered with fascists, incels, conspiracy theorists and unblockable Temu adverts. A singular solution indeed.
But how did we get here? The BBC's new documentary Twitter: Breaking the Bird attempts to answer this. It's bizarre to contemplate this now but there was a time when tech innovators weren't considered by some to be menaces to society, threats to freedom and amplifiers of evil. In fact, there was a time when they were widely viewed as exactly the opposite. Many people genuinely hoped that sites like Twitter and Facebook might represent the democratisation of discourse and even a step forward in human evolution.
Initially, this documentary captures that short, heady period evocatively. Although if anything, what's really striking is how banal Twitter 1.0 was. Its users basically used it to document the minutiae of their daily lives. The site was nearly called 'Friendstalker' a name that simultaneously feels mildly creepy and a million times less sinister that what Twitter was to become. It's hard to think of a starker illustration of Marshall McLuhan's maxim about the medium becoming the message than the rapid, exponential growth of a platform people essentially used to tell their virtual friends they were nipping out to buy a coffee.
In this context, the medium of this film – a long-form TV documentary consisting simply of archive film and talking heads – feels like a deliberate counterpoint, and bracingly retro. New media disrupts, it seems to imply, leaving legacy media to pick up the pieces. Along with the breezy, flashy inanity of early Twitter, the film catches something profound too. The platform's early innocuousness seems to have blinded the site's creators to the fact that they were building a timebomb. The developers (including Ev Williams, Biz Stone and Jason Goldman – co-founder and erstwhile CEO Dorsey does not contribute to this documentary) were too lost in the present to consider the future. Visionaries they might have been, but these were tunnel visionaries; unable to stop, look around, feel which way the wind was blowing.
They did, however, have warnings. It's hard not to feel sorry for the marooned, under-resourced Del Harvey, head of trust and safety, throughout. She clearly understood from an early stage that she was little more than window dressing for the company. Early adopter Ariel Waldman was followed onto Twitter by a real-life stalker. She complained to Dorsey, who refused to take the stalker's tweets down or suspend his account. 'Good luck with resolving the problem' he concluded briskly. 'Best. Jack'. Was this the moment when freedom of speech was first jumbled up with freedom from consequences?
And so it goes on. As we watch with the benefit of hindsight, it's difficult to imagine how this story could have turned out any other way. Celebrities arrived, bringing parasocial intimacy with them. In 2011, the Arab Spring protests illustrated Twitter's latent activist power. The 'Gamergate' controversy in 2014 saw online misogyny start to reveal itself. Dorsey was sacked, returned, involved himself in the Black Lives Matter protests, wore a T-shirt reading 'Stay Woke', became increasingly strange and started throwing his energy into meditation sessions rather than addressing the company's problems. Covid, finally, was the tipping point; the spark that lit the skip fire.
Musk is an oddly marginal presence in the film, even as he carries his famous sink into Twitter HQ. His route to radicalisation might helpfully have been explored, if only because for all of his wealth and influence, it feels so oddly familiar. He was worried about losing money during Covid. He was angry about 'wokeness'. He preferred shrill voices offering facile solutions to stolid voices offering evidence-tested ones. And he joined all of these abstract grievances together and came up with an answer reading 'Donald Trump'. It's often said that in 2020-21, we experienced parallel pandemics; one medical, one informational. X/Twitter has become the medium through which this has played out.
Ultimately, this documentary tells a great 21st century cautionary tale – although whether any lessons will be learned remains to be seen. Twitter (and other similar companies) grew too fast. It became both financially and culturally dominant too quickly. The growth spurt caught governments by surprise: it was too fast for any kind of meaningful regulatory framework to keep pace. And most of all, as becomes clear in this film, the companies grew too rapidly for the people involved to handle them. They were unmanageable in purely logistical terms; because of the constant firefighting involved with basic maintenance, any moral or ethical considerations fell by the wayside.
And now, it's too late. There's a sense that some of the contributors here would love to bolt the stable door. But sadly the horse is now several fields away and galloping hard. 'You can't have universal free speech' says one of the original developers Evan Henshaw-Plath. 'Because the speech of some destroys the speech of others'. If only someone had thought about that at the time…
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Our celeb-packed hotspot is now ghost town with just one shoe shop – tourists used to flock here but it's unrecognisable
The town has been described as "dead" and that its vibrancy has gone DOWN TOWN Our celeb-packed hotspot is now ghost town with just one shoe shop – tourists used to flock here but it's unrecognisable ONCE a celebrity-packed hotspot, residents have now described their home as a ghost town with just one shoe shop. Tourists used to flock there but the town is now unrecognisable following the pandemic. 5 Once a celebrity-packed hotspot, residents have now described their home as a ghost town with just one shoe shop Credit: Alamy 5 Newsagent Sangita Patel reckons she takes half what she did when tourists flocked to the town 5 Salon owner Camille Perry and fiancee Zack would do 'blow dry after blow dry' at Towie's height Brentwood, which is close to London and the M25, has become less attractive to visitors post-pandemic, leading residents to describe the town as 'dead'. Emma Louise-Brookes, who runs The Dressing Room Brentwood, a boutique bikini shop, has explained that the high street has been hit hard by the pandemic. She has noticed severe drops in footfall as rising rent and rates leave numerous shops vacant reported Essex Live. She said: "Footfall has dropped dramatically, no one is coming to Brentwood, and small independent shops like mine are really struggling." Local resident Simon Cross agrees that Brentwood's decline has seen an increase since COVID-19 struck. He explained: "Brentwood is still a pleasant place to live, but it's missing the vibrancy it once had." Simon added that Brentwood used to be bustling due to the fame brought by The Only Way is Essex. He said: "Tourists used to flock here, and the High Street was thriving! But now, that buzz is gone." Sangita Patel, owner of Newstime newsagents with husband Prajay since 2010, says Brentwood became a ghost town when Towie fans stopped coming. Agreeing with those thoughts, Gene Gravell noted that Brentwood remains a lovely town but it has lost much of its commercial diversity, which she misses. Our posh village is now ghost town strewn with empty homes She explained: "We've only got one shoe shop, and all the quirky independent shops are gone. "I think six businesses opened in the High Street in the past six months, but they were all restaurants, and I don't think we need more eateries - we need more diverse shops." In a public Facebook group other residents echoed these concerns when a new café recently announced its opening. One poster said: "No more cafes. We need shops to help the residents and visitors." Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Another remarked: "How about some clothes shops. Brentwood high street used to be lovely." While a third added: "What about shoe's and clothes??? No more bloody food places." One resident is concerned about the town's increasing population due to ongoing housing developments. She explained: "When I first arrived, there was a lot of greenery, but now, a lot of the green land is being sold off for houses, so I think Brentwood is becoming overpopulated." Other residents had concerns about safety issues which they believed were on the rise in the town. Simon shared: "It doesn't feel as safe as it once did, but I still live here because the location is ideal for commuting to London." Hasan Ellis said: "I've only been here a year, and I was jumped by two boys just outside a pub, two weeks ago." However, Brentwood remains a good choice for community living among other residents. Angel Fofana explained the local diversity and friendliness was important and said: "The diversity and friendliness of the people make this a wonderful place to live. "I love the culture here, and the peaceful atmosphere makes it a great place to raise children." Agreeing, Kate Goddard said: "We could use more shops, but overall, it's a nice, safe area, and everyone here is very friendly." In June 2023, Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone businesses voted to create a unique Business Improvement District (BID) that secured a significant £2m to be spent on improving High Streets over a five-year term. The Brentwood Connected BID was the first in the UK to incorporate three high streets in one Business Improvement District. Brentwood Borough council supported this with free Sunday parking and discounted parking all week in the multi-storey car park. They are also beginning a programme of audit and investment into community infrastructure such as street signs, benches and bins to enhance our High Streets and the entire local community. The Sun has contacted Brentwood Borough Council for any response. 5 Amy Childs had a salon in the town before shutting up shop
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Love Island fans 'work out' brutal recouping twist that could send two Islanders home
Love Island fans believe ITV has a brutal twist coming for the Islanders following last night's shock recoupling announcement. Love Island fans were caught off guard when a surprise text revealed there would be a recoupling in the villa - this time with the girls holding the power. Many viewers round the timing "random" and now suspect a major twist is on the way. Currently, the villa has an equal number of boys and girls following Malisha's recent exit. Her departure came after she and fellow singleton Toni went on separate dates with new bombshell Harrison, who ultimately chose to couple up with Toni. With everyone now coupled up, it seems unlikely that anyone will be left single after tonight's recoupling. However, fans are speculating that a dumping may still be looming, with a twist underway that will see an Islander dumped from the island. Taking to X, formally known as Twitter, viewers have been theorising that a public vote could be coming, finally giving fans the power to decide who stays and who goes. One fan penned: "They're recoupling then we vote for least compatible #LoveIsland," as another speculated: "It shouldn't have ended on a cliffhanger but probably means the aftermath of recoupling is chaos #LoveIsland." A third agreed, writing: "Noooo, that recoupling is going to be juicy #loveisland." While a third said: "I bet there would be a recoupling and public vote." Another suspicious fan chimed in, saying: "somethings fishy about this recoupling......#LoveIslandUK #loveisland." With another eagle eyed fan, predicting: "Is there an equal amount of girls or boys? I'm assuming the public vote tomorrow then #loveisland." The shock recoupling followed another drama-filled day in the villa, with a game being the source of the tension. The Islanders spent the afternoon playing a brutal game of spin the bottle. The Islanders found themselves switching partners frequently, as they faced a series of truths and dares. Tensions rose when Helena landed on a dare and Dejon dared her to kiss the islander she'd choose to recouple with. Without hesitation she kissed new bombshell Harrison - a move which turned heads. The drama didn't stop there, as Helena was visibly stunned when Shea was asked to give a one-word description of each islander - using the word 'mug' to describe her, following Harry's recent actions towards her. Things got even more complicated, when Megan pulled a truth card and was asked by Harry how she really felt about Conor - following the revelation that Conor had feelings for Megan, despite her being happily coupled with Tommy. Megan revealed that she and Connor had "unfinished business" from the first couple of days, much to Tommy and Emily, who is currently coupled up with Conor. Could this spark something new between Conor and Megan? And who will Megan choose to recouple with in tonight's recoupling?
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Rock and bowl with Hollywood Bowl's design a pin competition
Hollywood Bowl is launching a nationwide design-a-pin competition for one lucky child to be crowned the 'Champ-Pin' in celebration of this year's summer of music. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The competition will let creativity rock as children across the UK are invited to impress judges with a striking music-themed bowling pin design, celebrating the iconic artists and bands performing across the UK this summer. Running for over eight weeks from Friday, June 20, the winning artist will be chosen on Monday, August 18, and will see their show-stopping design transformed into a life-size replica bowling pin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The winning ten pin design will also take to the main stage in the winner's local Hollywood Bowl centre. The winner will receive an annual family bowling pass, and two runners-up will receive a free family bowling game pass. Hollywood Bowl is launching a nationwide design-a-pin competition in celebration of this year's summer of music. Dave Williams Operations Director, at Hollywood Bowl, said: 'With this summer's incredible lineup of artists and bands performing across the UK, we're excited to bring the musical spirit to our bowling lanes. We invite our young bowlers to unleash their creativity and design a pin that hits all the right notes. We're eager to see the striking designs that will celebrate this summer of music!' Kids aged 5 – 12 years old can enter the competition by designing their music-themed pin and submitting their creations to competitions@ or by visiting their local Hollywood Bowl centre and handing it to the reception desk. Parents can also submit designs via social, by using the #HWBsummerofmusic on Instagram and Facebook where a post includes an image of their design. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A pin design template is available to download from Hollywood Bowl's website for parents or guardians to print off at home and submit to enter the competition. Please visit here: Hollywood Bowl is launching a nationwide design-a-pin competition in celebration of this year's summer of music. The amusement areas are full of iconic arcade games and after building up an appetite on the lanes, re-fuel at the American-style bar and diner to enjoy plenty of delicious, affordable food and drink. Guests can bowl in their own flat, closed toes shoes, and should sign up for the VIP mailing list to receive offers and the latest news.
