Ten years of Twitter

As Twitter marks its tenth anniversary of hashtags, re-tweets and 140 character limits, we look at Twitter's most influential and most popular people.

The micro-blogging site has become one of the most popular tools for communication since its launch on March 21, 2006.

With over 300 million users, there is no denying how Twitter has become a game changer in the way we communicate.

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Celebrities play a major part on Twitter, allowing fans to follow the stars and keep up to date with their daily lives, as well as giving followers the opportunity to tweet celebrities and potentially get a reply.

So, who are the most popular celebrities on Twitter?

With 57 million followers, Lady Gaga is the fifth most followed celebrity.

The pop star rose to fame in 2008 after releasing her debut single ‘Just Dance’. She joined Twitter the same year and her first Tweet giving an insight into her hectic schedule was:

“op rehearsing for my video just dance and am now at wmc to perform at the Armani and nervous records party. But I am no nervous record! ...

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In fourth place is the current President of the United States, Barack Obama, who, since becoming president in 2009, has actively used the site to promote legislation and urge support for his policies.

His presidency account has 71 million followers however in 2015 he, he created his own personal Twitter account @POTUS which saw him gain 1 million followers in just 5 hours. The first tweet sent from the account was:

“Hello, Twitter! It’s Barack. Really! Six years in, they’re finally giving me my own account.”

In third place is the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, with 73 million followers.

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Joining Twitter in 2008 her first Tweet was a retweet from Justin Bieber.

“I love! RT@justinbieber I posted it!!! My response VIDEO to @taylorswift13 with an EXCLUSIVE SONG from my album...ENJOY http://bit.ly/561XU”

In second place is Justin Bieber himself, with 77 million followers. Rising to fame in 2007 after being spotted on YouTube covering songs by a talent manager, he has gone from strength to strength to become one of the richest celebrities under 25 with a net-worth of over $200 million.

He joined Twitter in 2009, promoting his first single ‘One Time’ on popular social networking site (at the time) Myspace. His first tweet says:

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“Check out my single “ONE TIME” on my Myspace and spread the word for me. Thanks www.myspace.com/justinbieber”

And finally, the most popular and most followed person on Twitter with 84 million followers in singing sensation Katy Perry.

With a net worth of $135 million, the star shot to fame in 2008 with the release of her single “I kissed a girl”.

In 2015 she was last year named as the world’s richest pop star

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Her first tweet, posted in 2009 marked her arrival into Berlin:

“Just got into Berlin... feeling better thank you, have my vicks inhaler by my bedside... and P.S. I TWITTTTER! GAH. Such a follower!”

Happy anniversary Twitter!