10/07/2025
Back in 2008, Mark Zuckerberg had one goal: to eliminate Twitter.
He didn’t just want to compete - he offered $500 million to buy them… just to shut them down from the inside.
But Twitter discovered the real plan, and what followed became one of tech’s biggest rivalries.
Imagine this: October 2008.
Twitter was still small, barely hitting 11 million users.
Meanwhile, Facebook was a giant, already soaring past 100 million.
But Zuckerberg wasn’t comfortable.
He saw a spark on Twitter, something dangerous. Something that could challenge everything Facebook was building.
For months, Zuckerberg had been quietly working on Twitter’s
co-founder, Jack Dorsey.
Endless emails. Multiple meetings.
His message was clear, and carried a subtle warning: Facebook could easily shift its features to compete directly with Twitter.
But there was just one flaw in his plan… and it changed everything:
Jack Dorsey was no longer in charge; he had just been pushed out as Twitter’s CEO.
So, he couldn’t greenlight any deal.
The real shot-callers?
Ev Williams and Biz Stone.
When Zuckerberg finally got them to Facebook HQ for a meeting, what happened next caught everyone off guard…
Ev Williams put a number on the table: $500 million.
Zuckerberg didn’t flinch; he’d anticipated that figure from earlier talks with Dorsey.
But then things took a turn.
Right in front of Zuckerberg, Williams began drafting an email… addressed to Twitter’s board:
“There are three reasons to sell a company,” Williams typed.
The offer is too good to pass up.
A major competitor is closing in.
You get the chance to work under someone truly exceptional.
Then he paused… and gave his final verdict:
“We’ve always believed Twitter is worth at least a billion,” he wrote.
“In fact, I think it’s worth several times that.”
“There’s no real threat capable of wiping Twitter out.”
Then came the dagger:
“I have serious doubts about Facebook’s people, and their way of doing business.”
Just like that, the deal collapsed.
Zuckerberg had invested months in this move.
Carefully building connections. Laying the groundwork.
Just as He later did with the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions
And now, the Twitter founders were turning him down flat.
But Ev Williams wasn’t finished just yet:
“I don’t use Facebook,” Williams added bluntly.
That line said it all.
The CEO of Twitter, face to face with Mark Zuckerberg, admitting he had no interest in Facebook.
It wasn’t just a no, it was personal.
And with that, the rivalry was born.
Fast forward three years, and Facebook rolled out “Subscribe” (which later became “Follow”).
They copied key features Twitter made famous:
@-mentions,
hashtags,
trending topics.
But here’s the catch:
No matter what they added, Facebook just couldn’t replicate Twitter’s one-of-a-kind vibe…
Twitter held something Facebook couldn’t clone:
Real-time conversations everyone could join.
Movements that sparked cultural change.
Breaking news as it happened.
The ability to shape global conversations instantly.
If it trend on Twitter, It trended everywhere...
Facebook kept chasing that magic, but Twitter stayed in a league of its own.
Fifteen years on, the battle rages.
In 2023, Meta dropped Threads, another shot at taking on Twitter/X.
But the takeaway from 2008 still stands: Authenticity can’t be bought.
You can’t just copy culture.
Sometimes, having a clear vision and sticking to it is what wins the game.
That’s the power of conviction in business.
Williams knew Twitter was worth far more than a billion.
He was proven right - Twitter’s IPO hit $11.9 billion.
So, what can we learn from this rivalry between Zuckerberg and the Twitter founders?
- Vision matters more than money.
Sometimes, believing in your mission beats any offer on the table.
- Authenticity can’t be bought or copied.
Culture and real connection come from genuine purpose, not just features.
- Timing and patience are powerful.
Twitter took its time growing, and that patience paid off big.
- Competition drives innovation.
The tech wars push companies to evolve and redefine the game.
- Respect your rivals, but never underestimate them.
Even giants can be challenged by unexpected players.
In the fast-paced world of tech, battles like this remind us that success isn’t just about money or power.
It’s about vision, grit, and staying true to what makes your product unique...
- Ifeanyu Christopher
