It's now possible to search Twitter's archives, using Topsy. This means you can do fun things like finding out what people's first ever tweets were - here's how:
Obviously, the first thing we thought of doing with this was finding out what some famous British Twitterers said the first time they tweeted.
This is pretty much the canonical "I am trying out this Twitter thing" first tweet from Jonathan Ross.
Getting to know twitter
Jonathan Ross
@wossy
Getting to know twitter
A functional opener from Stephen Fry.
Hello Twitterers. I'm About to fly to Africa for a new project and will be tweeting whilst I'm filming.
Stephen Fry
@stephenfry
Hello Twitterers. I'm About to fly to Africa for a new project and will be tweeting whilst I'm filming.
Caitlin Moran began on an aspirational note.
Ricky Gervais started by reminding us how he's big in Hollywood.
Just seeing how this works. I'm hosting the Golden Globes on January 17th - they want me to do a running commentary on Twitter...
Ricky Gervais
@rickygervais
Just seeing how this works. I'm hosting the Golden Globes on January 17th - they want me to do a running commentary on Twitter...
Brilliant work from the man who invented the World Wide Web.
Ooops confusing user interfxce. And no phones on on stage with radiomikes.
Tim Berners-Lee
@timberners_lee
Ooops confusing user interfxce. And no phones on on stage with radiomikes.
High quality opening salvo from Schofield here.
Wondering why I'm eating weight watchers chocolate.... I'm not fat!
Phillip Schofield
@Schofe
Wondering why I'm eating weight watchers chocolate.... I'm not fat!
Strong anecdote about Carol Vorderman from Dara Ó Briain.
Cheltenham Science Fest: intro'd @Bengoldacre to Vorderman. Later told, "the one person Carol doesn't want to meet today is Ben Goldacre".
Dara ö Briain
@daraobriain
Cheltenham Science Fest: intro'd @Bengoldacre to Vorderman. Later told, "the one person Carol doesn't want to meet today is Ben Goldacre".
Peter Serafinowicz started as he would continue, with a solid gag.
I've just had my Twitter birthday. I'm 0 today!
Peter Serafinowicz
@serafinowicz
I've just had my Twitter birthday. I'm 0 today!
Piers Morgan correctly anticipated that most people would just use Twitter to send him insults.
BREAKING NEWS: I'm now a Twit. Official.
Piers Morgan
@piersmorgan
BREAKING NEWS: I'm now a Twit. Official.
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger showed an early commitment to uncovering THE TRUTH.
is northern line working? or do i use my davos snow grips (never used?)
alan rusbridger
@arusbridger
is northern line working? or do i use my davos snow grips (never used?)
Simon Cowell was so impressed with the fact that he is Simon Cowell that he made it into a hashtag.
Niall Horan was the only memeber of 1D to be on Twitter pre-fame. His first tweet was a retweet of Justin Bieber.
Let's do something positive. Vote for @PencilsOfPromis to help build schools for 75k kids in need. Just one click: http://bit.ly/4DYKIV
Justin Bieber
@justinbieber
Let's do something positive. Vote for @PencilsOfPromis to help build schools for 75k kids in need. Just one click: http://bit.ly/4DYKIV
His next few tweets were also all directed at Bieber.
@justinbieber .i gota tlk to you man..really..in private.. u got mail i can write to
Niall Horan
@NiallOfficial
@justinbieber .i gota tlk to you man..really..in private.. u got mail i can write to
Then he said this, which is adorable.
The rest of One Direction's first tweets are pretty meh.
Enjoying my day at home :)
Harry Styles
@Harry_Styles
Enjoying my day at home :)
is starting to like twitter :)
Louis Tomlinson
@Louis_Tomlinson
is starting to like twitter :)
hi guys zayn malik here :)
zaynmalik1D
@zaynmalik
hi guys zayn malik here :)
I am the real Liam Payne
Liam Payne
@Real_Liam_Payne
I am the real Liam Payne
JESSIE J WAS VERY ALLCAPSY
ALSO SHE HAD STATUS ANXIETY
@ClaudeKelly GOODNIGHT!! I JOINED!!! NOOOOOO!! SAVE ME!!! I HAVE 2 FOLLOWERS... SAD NEWS!! HOOK ME UP BLAD!!
JESSIE J
@JessieJ
@ClaudeKelly GOODNIGHT!! I JOINED!!! NOOOOOO!! SAVE ME!!! I HAVE 2 FOLLOWERS... SAD NEWS!! HOOK ME UP BLAD!!
Some people LIED about what their first tweet was.
Oooo my first tweet... well... this is awkward...
Conor Maynard
@ConorMaynard
Oooo my first tweet... well... this is awkward...
Look. LIES.
@godsgirl8494 Check the video now Caitlin... Put something in there for you :)
Conor Maynard
@ConorMaynard
@godsgirl8494 Check the video now Caitlin... Put something in there for you :)
Some people hadn't quite got the hang of the 140 characters thing.
Finally got twitter, still not on facebook but I thought I'd c wat dis twitter things all about so all u fake tuli (cont) http://tl.gd/6021d
Tulisa Contostavlos
@officialtulisa
Finally got twitter, still not on facebook but I thought I'd c wat dis twitter things all about so all u fake tuli (cont) http://tl.gd/6021d
Professor Green was pessimistic about what Twitter held for him. Example, meanwhile, was simply stunned by what he'd just done.
Example quickly got the hang of it though - these are his next two tweets:
not sure what to write about on here really i guess you just tell people what you're eating and wearing
example
@example
not sure what to write about on here really
i guess you just tell people what you're eating and wearing
ive had 2 pizzas today and i wore some old nike dunks to play in the snow next update will be interesting
example
@example
ive had 2 pizzas today
and i wore some old nike dunks to play in the snow
next update will be interesting
Karen Gillan's first tweet was fairly standard.
Hello twitter...nice to meet you.
Karen Gillan
@KarenGillan2
Hello twitter...nice to meet you.
But she quickly redeemed this with an outstanding Doctor selfie.
http://t.co/QM3Laa0p
Karen Gillan
@KarenGillan2
http://t.co/QM3Laa0p
Both of Mitchell & Webb were forced to join because of people pretending to be them.
@RobertWebb72 The Party's over and you're busted. I've let Twitter know that you're an impersonator ps I live in a basement flat - tyles?
Robert Webb
@arobertwebb
@RobertWebb72 The Party's over and you're busted. I've let Twitter know that you're an impersonator ps I live in a basement flat - tyles?
ATTN @ADavidMitchell is an imposter. This is me. Others will verify.
David Mitchell
@RealDMitchell
ATTN @ADavidMitchell is an imposter. This is me. Others will verify.
So was Eddie Izzard.
I am now really on Twitter. Someone was pretending to be me but I am me. I'll update a photo later to confirm. Eddie in N7 at the moment
Eddie Izzard
@eddieizzard
I am now really on Twitter. Someone was pretending to be me but I am me. I'll update a photo later to confirm. Eddie in N7 at the moment
And Chris Moyles.
Setting up my account and trying to work out who the hell 'Chris Moyles' and 'Chris Moyles Show' are cos they are NOT THE REAL ME, I AM!
Chris Moyles
@CHRISDJMOYLES
Setting up my account and trying to work out who the hell 'Chris Moyles' and 'Chris Moyles Show' are cos they are NOT THE REAL ME, I AM!
Lucy from TOWIE seemed to believe she was corresponding directly with Twitter, the company.
Some people were peer-pressured into joining.
I have been bullied into joining Twitter. Let's see how long this lasts. I reckon 8 days.
Charlie Brooker
@charltonbrooker
I have been bullied into joining Twitter. Let's see how long this lasts. I reckon 8 days.
Following your emotional blackmailing and jokes about my lack of fame surely about to be picked up in a gossip column, I am now on twitter.
David Baddiel
@Baddiel
Following your emotional blackmailing and jokes about my lack of fame surely about to be picked up in a gossip column, I am now on twitter.
Some made a point of letting us know who'd bullied them into signing up.
Hello this is my first message. Graham Linehan told me I have to join.
Matt Lucas
@RealMattLucas
Hello this is my first message. Graham Linehan told me I have to join.
@Wossy Hey. JR. It's me. Your encouragement worked. I'm on.
Danny Wallace
@dannywallace
@Wossy Hey. JR. It's me. Your encouragement worked. I'm on.
Finally decided to tweet. Gia's fault. At heathrow on way to Delhi to film eclipse on Wednesday next week. Its raining apparently.
Brian Cox
@ProfBrianCox
Finally decided to tweet. Gia's fault. At heathrow on way to Delhi to film eclipse on Wednesday next week. Its raining apparently.
just joined twitter cos Mis Info said so
Tim Westwood
@TimWestwood
just joined twitter cos
Mis Info said so
Some were hopeful.
This may become active one day! (Hopefully).
Imogen Heap
@imogenheap
This may become active one day! (Hopefully).
Some were puzzled.
not understanding what I'm supposed to do here...
Dave Gorman
@DaveGorman
not understanding what I'm supposed to do here...
Some discovered Twitter's key role in procrastination early.
writing the first draft of a comedy sci-fi show, I should be doing that. I'm doing this!
Robert Llewellyn
@bobbyllew
writing the first draft of a comedy sci-fi show, I should be doing that. I'm doing this!
Grace Dent nailed it with her first two tweets.
looking puzzled at twitter
Grace Dent
@gracedent
looking puzzled at twitter
i honestly don't see the point of this. Grace is faffing about on her mac as a displacement activity. She has not written any novel today.
Grace Dent
@gracedent
i honestly don't see the point of this. Grace is faffing about on her mac as a displacement activity. She has not written any novel today.
But the best first tweet? John Cleese. Unimprovable.
