The Tweekender: Being mistaken for rapist on Twitter helps writer’s career

With hundreds of millions of tweets per day, it’s impossible to follow everything happening on Twitter. Every Friday, the Daily Dot rounds up notable Twitter news and stories from the past week—in 140 characters or less.

• The NYT had a fascinating profile of Twitter and its CEO Dick Costolo.
• Nick Bilton, the writer of the aforementioned piece, answered reader questions about the company.
• Twitter quietly added a directory of users, which Search Engine Land suggests is a play for search engine attention.
• Rumors abound that Twitter’s considering creating a video hosting service. It just bought a video-sharing company, which should help.
• Links were unusable for about 40 minutes after a blunder involving the t.co link shortener.
• Company legal counsel Ben Lee detailed the toll “meritless lawsuits” have taken on Twitter.
• Twitter’s CFO revealed why he opted to leave Pixar (of all places) to join the company.
• Twitter has a new office in Korea, probably to deal with all the followers and tweets @psy_oppa is seeing.
• Here’s how a fake soccer journalist allegedly riled Liverpool F.C. communications director with a real-life fallout.
• A writer claimed being confused with a rapist over his Twitter handle may help his career.
• The average Twitter user is an American, iPhone-owning, purple-loving female. Apparently.
• A Telegraph op-ed argued that the punishment for tweets deemed “grossly offensive” by U.K. courts often fails to fit the crime.
• The Rock’s tweets are carefully planned. It’s heartening to know that he sends all tweets himself, no doubt with an arched eyebrow.
• Some Saudi men complained about the high cost of the bridal dowry, claiming they’d rather have a car.

The week’s best new accounts: Legendary Brit comedy duo Cannon and Ball take the top spot with a personal account. Orgy Complaints is fairly funny and self-explanatory. Oh, and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron now has a personal account.

Photo of the week: Chelsea Clinton celebrated her parents’ 37th wedding anniversary with this blast from the past. (@chelseaclinton)