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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Fergie's quit! Alex Ferguson's retirement tweeted 6m times | Fergie's quit! Alex Ferguson's retirement tweeted 6m times |
| (5 months later) | |
| Sir Alex Ferguson was mentioned 6m on Twitter in the 24 hours after he confirmed his retirement as manager of Manchester United, the microblogging site has said. | Sir Alex Ferguson was mentioned 6m on Twitter in the 24 hours after he confirmed his retirement as manager of Manchester United, the microblogging site has said. |
| The social media reaction in the wake of his decision appeared to dwarf the reaction to Baroness Thatcher's death last month. | The social media reaction in the wake of his decision appeared to dwarf the reaction to Baroness Thatcher's death last month. |
| Few public announcements have generated a frenzy of greater magnitude. Among them was the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was mentioned 7m times over the same timeframe when named the new pope. | Few public announcements have generated a frenzy of greater magnitude. Among them was the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was mentioned 7m times over the same timeframe when named the new pope. |
| Twitter said: "Just over 24 hours since @ManUtd_PO confirmed on Twitter #SAF was retiring. There were 6m mentions of the story on Twitter during that time." | Twitter said: "Just over 24 hours since @ManUtd_PO confirmed on Twitter #SAF was retiring. There were 6m mentions of the story on Twitter during that time." |
| On Thursday morning, the social networking site was awash with speculation over Ferguson's successor – something that appeared to reach fever pitch as Everton confirmed its manager, David Moyes, would leave the Merseyside club with a view to joining Manchester United. | On Thursday morning, the social networking site was awash with speculation over Ferguson's successor – something that appeared to reach fever pitch as Everton confirmed its manager, David Moyes, would leave the Merseyside club with a view to joining Manchester United. |
| Earlier, the Manchester club was embarrassed by a message that appeared on its Facebook page suggesting fans should welcome "new manager David Moyes". It was hastily removed. | Earlier, the Manchester club was embarrassed by a message that appeared on its Facebook page suggesting fans should welcome "new manager David Moyes". It was hastily removed. |
| Ferguson, 71, said it was the "right time" to go after 27 years at the helm, in which he took Manchester United to the pinnacle of the English and European game. | Ferguson, 71, said it was the "right time" to go after 27 years at the helm, in which he took Manchester United to the pinnacle of the English and European game. |
| News of his retirement even overshadowed the Queen's Speech at the state opening of parliament. | News of his retirement even overshadowed the Queen's Speech at the state opening of parliament. |
| The announcement rapidly dominated social networking sites and less than 20 minutes after the news broke, the number of tweets per minute peaked at 13,000. The subject became the top global trending topic within eight minutes. | The announcement rapidly dominated social networking sites and less than 20 minutes after the news broke, the number of tweets per minute peaked at 13,000. The subject became the top global trending topic within eight minutes. |
| The biggest flurry of activity witnessed on Twitter following a news event was when US President Barack Obama was re-elected – an announcement of victory that prompted 31m tweets. | The biggest flurry of activity witnessed on Twitter following a news event was when US President Barack Obama was re-elected – an announcement of victory that prompted 31m tweets. |
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