Twitter was never a perfect platform.

Twitter, like all social media, has never been a perfect platform. It has had its fair share of toxic communities, but amidst the imperfections, I found bright spots and life-changing opportunities.

I joined Twitter in 2012, six years after its inception, right at the beginning of my career as a designer. Initially, my tweets were filled with floods of hashtags and meaningless thoughts, but as time went on, the platform evolved into a space where I could truly connect with key communities.

Through Twitter, I forged connections with fellow designers, engineers, and tech leaders. It opened doors to various tech communities that advocated for equity, inclusion, accessibility, privacy, security, sustainability, and much more.

While the platform was far from flawless, it provided me with invaluable opportunities to learn from others and share my own knowledge.

Through Twitter, I was able to reach at least 20,000 people (a humble follower count compared to others) about my personal passions for accessibility, inclusive design, ketchup, and cats.

During wildfires in my area, I relied on the platform to check for evacuation updates and to keep track of others in the region. I stumbled upon job opportunities thanks to what I shared there and was even able to extend a helping hand to others.

What made Twitter truly special were the genuine friendships I formed. So many people who have fundamentally changed my life, I met through Twitter.

Twitter might have its flaws, but for me, it became a valuable tool for professional growth, personal connections, and community engagement.

In other contexts, I encountered both harassment and trolling on Twitter.

There were moments when I faced private and even public harassment, and the platform’s toxicity took a toll on my mental well-being, even during the best of times.