By Andrew Thompson Landerghini, University of Utah Communications
A little more than 10 years ago, chirping could be heard from the University Marketing and Communications office. It wasn’t quite an audible tweet, but more the sound of hatching. And with it, the birth of @UUtah (and @uofu and @uofutah, both of which still rest in the nest, safe from the snapping beaks of the Twitterverse). Since that May 2008 day, the U’s central Twitter account has been a source for news, alerts, events, live look-ins and good old-fashioned banter between friends.
Actually the first tweet from the University of Utah didn’t occur until January 2009, a good seven months after the institution joined the fledgling platform. At the time, Twitter had 6 million users (today, there are 330 million active users), and a lot of those users sent texts to tweet. Images weren’t introduced until 2011, and the ability to live stream video much later.
But it was good at automation, which the U took advantage of with that first tweet synced to a blog post from the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
Undefeated Utes – Just One More Utah Secret: Now that the Sugar Bowl game is over, and the underdog University o.. http://tinyurl.com/8agtuj
— University of Utah (@UUtah) January 9, 2009
Kind of lame (syncing that first tweet, not that year’s Sugar Bowl). But even Twitter’s first ever tweet was automated.
Eventually though, as the platform grew, so did the importance of Twitter in the university’s communication quiver. It became a way to communicate far and wide with journalists and influencers across the globe. And it also became a way to increase the conversation amongst colleges, departments and offices right here on campus. Today, there are literally hundreds of U-affiliated accounts providing academic, athletics and campus life information.
The platform is not just for marketers and public relations professionals. The world of academia has embraced the technology, as well, for many of the same reasons.
“As an academic, I find Twitter to be super important in interacting with other scholars as well as folks who work in politics and journalism. I can keep abreast of current issues and research,” said Shannon McGregor, a communication professor, whose research interests include political communication, social media, public opinion journalism studies and gender. More U faculty on Twitter can be found here.
Here are some highlights over the past 10 years on Twitter:
Salt Lake City: it’s a pretty place. ? pic.twitter.com/OW0ocbqVEt
— University of Utah (@UUtah) April 27, 2017
#LightTheU #GoUtes! ???
?: @MrFreezurass pic.twitter.com/UuPUckT9eR— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 12, 2016
We’re in a rain delay. #Utah has the ball in Michigan territory with 7:51 left in the 4th. Utah 26, Michigan 10! pic.twitter.com/5j8a4xECHN
— University of Utah (@UUtah) September 20, 2014
Requesting an RES Tower fly-by, over.?#RogerThat pic.twitter.com/k8kEZwOz4r
— University of Utah (@UUtah) September 9, 2016
Between the @Runnin_Utes and @Utah_Football, @utahathletics had us feeling like this today. ?#GoUtes! ?? pic.twitter.com/YlgqT02B39
— University of Utah (@UUtah) December 20, 2015
It was a record high of 87° on sᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/ljmXMrItJA
— University of Utah (@UUtah) April 30, 2018
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❄❄❄❄ pic.twitter.com/eWAf6S24j6— University of Utah (@UUtah) December 4, 2017
Sad day for campus community. RIP Big Ed’s. What you lacked in culinary skills you made up for in character. Going to miss the Gawd Awful. pic.twitter.com/iR7X59eBgE
— University of Utah (@UUtah) September 18, 2017
To the kid reppin’ the Y amidst all those U’s, you be you. The state would be lesser off without some blue. #GoUtes! pic.twitter.com/6XfeEqzutx
— University of Utah (@UUtah) January 30, 2016
A love letter from @ModernFam‘s Phil Dunphy (aka Ty Burrell) to #SLC: http://t.co/wqmvBI5Vcj via @HuffPostTravel pic.twitter.com/DyoGxcbeow
— University of Utah (@UUtah) May 22, 2014
Dear @BYU, @USUAggies, @WeberStateU, @UVU, @SUUtbirds, @DixieState, @WestminsterSLC, @SaltLakeCC & @SnowCollege —
You all are great partners in educating the state of Utah! ?#NationalComplimentDay
— University of Utah (@UUtah) January 24, 2018
Proud to be one of 28 universities in the U.S. to be named a bicycle-friendly campus by the @BikeLeague! pic.twitter.com/el8CMkey0I
— University of Utah (@UUtah) July 18, 2014
#FlashTheUFriday from the largest incoming class we’ve ever had! Thanks to the #ClassOf2021 for reppin’ the U, & welcome to campus! #GoUtes! pic.twitter.com/LVM7ljHE21
— University of Utah (@UUtah) August 26, 2017
That time we started the internet.
(With a little help from our friends.)#ThisDayInHistory https://t.co/yotVElkGAt
— University of Utah (@UUtah) December 5, 2017
#FlashbackFriday: 70 years ago today, the “Blitz Kids” shocked the world & won the NCAA title! #MarchMadness #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/fIPMRrxM2x
— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 28, 2014
Cozy. pic.twitter.com/2sbWeFQmJL
— University of Utah (@UUtah) September 19, 2017
The Bulldog with @FOXSports1 after a come-from-behind victory over #USC! #GoUtes! #USCvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/5EXOOuscJH
— University of Utah (@UUtah) October 26, 2014
We’re sure happy to be here! MT @NBCNews: Study reveals most happy states. Congrats, Utah. http://t.co/9UJM8LHtLa pic.twitter.com/YUcR0T1JAr
— University of Utah (@UUtah) September 30, 2014