#Inaug09
The first presidential inauguration to be live-tweeted by millions, crashing Twitter’s servers.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| First Appeared | January 2009 |
| Origin Platform | |
| Peak Usage | January 20, 2009 |
| Current Status | Peaked |
| Primary Platforms |
Origin Story
Barack Obama’s January 20, 2009 inauguration was the first major political event to be mass live-tweeted. Millions of users shared reactions using #Inaug09 as Obama was sworn in as the 44th (and first Black) president. The volume of tweets was so massive it crashed Twitter’s servers multiple times. The event proved that social media was now an integral part of how people experienced historic moments together, even from thousands of miles apart.
Cultural Impact
#Inaug09 established the “second screen” phenomenon for political events — watching on TV while discussing on Twitter. It proved Twitter could handle (barely) national-scale events and set expectations for future inaugurations, State of the Union addresses, and elections. The tag also captured the emotional intensity of a historic moment, with people sharing tears, celebrations, and reflections in real-time. Every subsequent inauguration and major political event would be hashtagged and live-tweeted as standard practice.
Related Hashtags
- #Obama - 44th president
- #Yes We Can - Campaign slogan
- #44 - Presidential number
- #SOTU - State of the Union tradition
References
- Wikipedia: First inauguration of Barack Obama
- Twitter crashes during inauguration - The Guardian
- How Obama’s inauguration changed Twitter - Wired
Last updated: February 2026 Part of the Hashpedia project