Tweet

A tweet is a post published on Twitter, a social media platform launched in 2006 as a microblogging service. The term describes the short messages users publish, a defining feature of the platform. Tweets were originally limited to 140 characters, with the limit expanded to 280 characters in 2017. The word “tweet” evokes a bird’s chirp, reflecting the platform’s quick, light style of communication.

Users can compose tweets that may include text, hyperlinks, and media such as images, videos, or GIFs. Engagement features include replies, likes, retweets (reposts), and quotes. Hashtags (#) help organize topics and track conversations, while @mentions link to other users. Threads allow multiple connected tweets to convey longer narratives. Most tweets are public by default, though accounts can be set to protected to restrict visibility.

Over time, Twitter expanded tools for brands, developers, and researchers, while introducing verification for notable accounts. In 2023, the company announced a rebranding of the platform as X; the core service continues to be used for posting short messages, and many users still refer to posts as tweets. The platform remains widely used for news, commentary, marketing, customer service, and real-time conversation, but it has also faced ongoing concerns about misinformation, harassment, and moderation.

Technical access is provided through APIs with varying levels of access for developers, researchers, and businesses, governed by terms and usage policies.