It is hard to remember a time when Miley Cyrus wasn’t the queen of the internet. Honestly, if you look back at the history of social media, she was one of the first truly "online" mega-celebs who treated her profile like a diary rather than a PR tool. But Miley Cyrus and Twitter have a relationship that’s better described as "it’s complicated."
Remember 2009? She was the biggest star on the planet, still wearing the blonde wig for Hannah Montana, and she abruptly nuked her account. Poof. Gone. Two million followers—which was a massive number back then—left in the dark.
She didn't just leave quietly, though. She posted a rap video on YouTube to explain why she was quitting. "I started living for people and stopped living for moments," she rapped, while basically telling everyone she wanted her private life back. It was weird. It was very 2009. And it was the first sign that Miley wasn’t going to play by the usual celebrity rulebook.
The Record-Breaking VMA Spike
Fast forward to 2013. Miley was back on the platform, and she wasn't the Disney kid anymore. When she hit the stage at the VMAs with Robin Thicke, Twitter actually struggled to stay upright. The performance generated 306,000 tweets per minute. For context, that beat out Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show record from the same year.
People were losing their minds. Parents were horrified. Fans were obsessed.
What’s fascinating is how she used the platform during that Bangerz era. She used it as a shield and a weapon. When the media attacked her for "Wrecking Ball" or the tongue-out photos, she’d hop on Twitter and double down. It wasn't polished. It was raw. She was basically the architect of the modern "IDGAF" celebrity persona that artists like Doja Cat or Olivia Rodrigo use today.
Why Her Strategy Shifted Recently
If you look at her feed now, things feel... different. It’s cleaner.
There’s a reason for that. Olivia Rudensky, who started out as a fan running a Miley fan account at age 12, eventually became her Head of Marketing and Digital. That’s a wild career arc, right? Under professional management, Miley’s presence evolved from chaotic late-night thoughts to a high-level marketing machine.
Take the "Flowers" rollout in 2023 or her recent 2026 Grammy buzz. Her team now uses Twitter as a funnel. They lean heavily into SMS marketing and "call-to-action" posts that drive fans toward things like her "Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party" on NBC or exclusive vinyl drops.
But it’s not all corporate. She still has those "Miley" moments. Like in 2018, when she rescinded her decade-old apology for that Vanity Fair photo shoot. She tweeted a photo of a tabloid cover that said "Miley's Shame" and just wrote: "IM NOT SORRY. F--- YOU." ## The 2026 Comeback and "Dream as One"
Right now, in early 2026, the conversation has shifted toward her work on the Avatar: Fire and Ash soundtrack. Her track "Dream as One" has been a massive talking point on X (formerly Twitter). Even though she lost out at the Golden Globes recently to a K-Pop track, the "Smilers" (her fan base) basically owned the trending topics for 48 hours.
She also recently confirmed a major 20th Anniversary event for Hannah Montana slated for March 2026. This is huge. For years, she tried to distance herself from that character. Now, she’s using Twitter to bridge the gap between her "Wrecking Ball" rebellion and her Disney roots. It’s a full-circle moment that most stars can’t pull off without looking desperate for nostalgia.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Miley hates social media because she goes through these "blackout" phases where she deletes every photo on Instagram or stops tweeting for months.
Actually, it’s the opposite. She knows exactly how much power those platforms have. When she goes quiet, it’s usually the "silence before the storm" strategy. By deleting her history, she creates a blank canvas for the next "era."
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She’s also been vocal about the mental health toll. Back in 2010, she told Ellen DeGeneres that the "hatemail" regarding her support for gay marriage was part of why she left the first time. She’s learned that you can’t be accessible 24/7 if you want to stay sane.
Key Milestones in the Miley/Twitter Timeline
- 2009: The Great Deletion. Miley leaves Twitter via a rap video to regain privacy.
- 2011: The Return. She realizes she needs the direct line to fans to control her own narrative.
- 2013: VMA Chaos. She breaks the record for most tweets per minute (306k).
- 2018: The Apology Rescinded. She goes viral for telling the world she isn't sorry for her 15-year-old self's "scandals."
- 2023-2025: The "Flowers" Era. A shift toward high-concept, aesthetic-heavy posting and SMS integration.
- 2026: The Anniversary Era. Using the platform to celebrate 20 years of Hannah Montana while promoting new film scores.
Real Talk: Is Twitter Still Relevant for Her?
Kinda. While Instagram is where the "aesthetic" lives and TikTok is where the "Flowers" dance challenges happened, Twitter is still where the discourse happens.
When a video surfaced of her gossiping with Selena Gomez at the 2026 Golden Globes, it didn't blow up on her official page first. It blew up via fan accounts like @weadoremiley. Miley knows this. She lets the fans do the heavy lifting of "virality" while she stays above the fray, only dropping in to post high-quality photography or big announcements.
It’s a masterclass in celebrity evolution. She went from being a victim of the platform's toxicity to a user of its reach.
If you’re trying to keep up with Miley in 2026, don’t just look at her "Tweets" tab. Look at what she’s "liking" or what her fan community is screaming about. That’s where the real story is.
Actionable Steps for Fans
To stay ahead of the curve on Miley’s 2026 plans, you should do more than just follow her main handle.
- Monitor the "Smiler" Communities: Accounts like Miley Nation often get "leaks" or early info about pop-up events before the official PR wire.
- Check for SMS Alerts: Miley’s team often uses Twitter to drop "hidden" phone numbers. Texting these usually gets you info about secret shows or merch drops 24-48 hours before they go public.
- Watch the Film Scores: With her recent Golden Globe nomination for the Avatar franchise, her Twitter activity is likely to lean more toward "prestige" projects rather than just pop singles for a while.
Miley Cyrus hasn't just survived Twitter; she's outlasted almost everyone who started on it at the same time she did. Whether she’s rapping about leaving or breaking records with a twerk, she remains the platform's most unpredictable resident.