Bryan Bedder/Getty ImagesHappy Birthday, Twitter!
The microblogging site turns 8 today, which is pretty impressive for the wild wild Web. When it all began, though—back in the good ol' days of 2006—even the social media stars among us (aka, celebs) were still figuring out their bearings.
From Katy Perry to Barack Obama to Miley Cyrus (before she murdered Hannah Montana, y'all!), take a look back at these stars and initial 140-character-or-less ramblings.
Ellen DeGeneres was an early adapter, and unlike some of her contemporaries who immediately used this new platform to shill, she got the hang of things quickly.
Tis my first twitt-er. Or tweet? Twit? Or tweet?
"Twit or tweet everybody." Is this anything?
? Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 10, 2009Taylor Swift, if you can believe it, used her first tweet for a friendly interaction with Justin Bieber (this was before the Selena Gomez BFFdom had been fully cemented).
I love! RT@justinbieber I posted it!!! My response VIDEO to @taylorswift13 with an EXCLUSIVE SONG from my album...ENJOY http://bit.ly/561XU
? Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 25, 2008Lady Gaga took the high school AIM-status approach....
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! ...
? Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) March 27, 2008While Twitter quitter-turned-Twitter-Jesus Miley Cyrus made her most recent comeback to social media in a promotional way
Welcome to the official Miley Cyrus "Gypsy Heart Tour" twitter page!!!
? Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) March 30, 2011Britney Spears' initial tweet appeared to come from her people (and not the pop princess herself)...
Welcome to Britney Spears' Twitter! Follow the latest in Britney news and get updates straight from Britney and her entourage.
? Britney Spears (@britneyspears) October 10, 2008President Barack Obama was decidedly serious with his inaugural tweet...
Thinking we're only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq.
Learn more at http://www.barackobama.com
? Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 29, 2007While stars like Justin Timberlake took a somewhat cautious approach.
Tennman Records released its first single today, Esmee Denters' "Outta Here". http://tinyurl.com/cs55pa. What do you think?
? Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 14, 2009Cutie pie Harry Styles was seemingly unaware of the millions of Directioners that would soon be hanging on his every word...
now my friends are laughing at me! but it was fun :-)
? Harry Styles (@harrystyles) September 29, 2010Whereas Justin Bieber seemed to get it, pointing his followers to Myspace!
Check out my single "ONE TIME" on my myspace and spread the word for me. Thanks www.myspace.com/justinbieber
? Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) May 12, 2009Speak of the Biebs! Selena Gomez's first tweet promoted her music of yesteryear, too...
Here it is!!! I can't wait for you guys to hear it! http://twitpic.com/em7rg
? Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) October 25, 2008Demi Lovato kept it real, yo.
procrastinating in school listening to interested - House Of Fools. only a few more weeks left till i'm done for GOOD!!!
? demetria lovato (@ddlovato) February 17, 2009As did Katy Perry!
Just got into Berlin... feeling better thank you, have my vicks inhaler by my bedside... and P.S. I TWITTTTER! GAH. Such a follower!
— Katy Perry (@katyperry) February 21, 2009And Ms. Rihanna hyped her single of the moment.
The Wait Is Ova. Nov 23 09
? Rihanna (@rihanna) October 13, 2009Oprah Winfrey was as charming as ever...
HI TWITTERS . THANK YOU FOR A WARM WELCOME. FEELING REALLY 21st CENTURY .
? Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 17, 2009And Kim Kardashian was—right from the get-go—interacting with her fans!
@TeamKardashians OMG your background is FIRE!!!! I want my pics bigger I think, will u help me?
? Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 25, 2008Then we have a holy blast from the past: Lindsay Lohan tweeting her love for then-girlfriend Samantha Ronson!
@samantharonson FLY SAFE... love you
? Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) September 28, 2009If we come back to present day (well, 2013), there's Cameron Diaz...
I JUST got a super cool new app called Twitter. Twelloooo!!!
? Cameron (@CameronDiaz) November 8, 2013Jay Z rarely tweets, but when he does, it's solid gold.
This is Hov... Ahmir! Half! Haa.
? Mr. Carter (@S_C_) November 22, 2008While Beyoncé, a nonfrequent tweeter just like Hov, stayed sweet while still being promotional.
Hey World, It's B!
I'm so excited to invite you to my new http://t.co/fZxlrtAh - we've been working
hard, and it's finally ready for you XO
? Beyoncé Knowles (@Beyonce) April 5, 2012Want to go back and see your first tweet? (You know you do.) Find it, then share your results in the comments!