'Twitter Stories': New Site Highlights Action-Inspiring Tweets
"Twitter Stories" showcases single Tweets that have had big impacts.
Nov. 2, 2011 — -- Twitter has launched an innovative new website called "Twitter Stories" that showcases stories of tweets that have powerfully affected someone or something.
Though Twitter has become knowing for playing an integral role in world-changing events including this year's Egyptian uprising and the Japanese earthquake, the site typically focuses more on personal stories from individuals, both famous and not.
The new site is designed to showcase these stories.
"Read about a single Tweet that helped save a bookstore from going out of business; an athlete who took a hundred of his followers out to a crab dinner; and, Japanese fishermen who use Twitter to sell their catch before returning to shore," Twitter wrote as an introduction to the blog. "Each story reminds us of the humanity behind Tweets that make the world smaller."
A few examples of stories from the site's inaugural edition:
"From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!" -- Tweeted on May 12, 2009 by astronaut Mike Massimino, making history with the first outer-space Tweet.
"Sh*t, I need a kidney" -- Tweeted by Chris Strouth of Minneapolis. Within a few days, 19 people had offered to be tested as a match and one of them was. Strouth got his kidney.
"@lancearmstrong I'll donate $10,000 to the LAF you can ride up Waipio Road on a road bike without stopping. Anyone else want to donate?" -- Tweeted by Mark Slavonia of Hawaii, referring to Waipio Road, one of the world's steepest roads. A year later, Armstrong accepted the challenge and biked the hill.
Users can share their Twitter stories by mentioning @twitterstories or by using the hashtag #twitterstories and the site asks for a video or photo to illustrate the story. Each month, Twitter will choose a selection of stories to showcase on the site.