Tweets over time

Twitter activity has risen continuously over the observed timespan. After 2010, Twitter gained prominence as a tool for political communication. The 545 tracked politicians joined the platform bit by bit, with surges every 2 years at the midterm elections, when the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate is up for reelection. I counted the number of first tweets per week as a proxy for the new arrival of politicians to the platform.

Twitter activity rises from January and peaks in June. In the summer recess between July and August, average tweeting decreases. After the adjournment average tweeting rises for a month and goes quieter again towards the end of the year.

Average monthly tweets, shows the above trend with more clarity. Also tweeting over the week follows a similar pattern: slow in the beginning, a peak on Thursdays and declining towards the weekend.