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How a Tweet, a Tiny Stock, and a Reddit Army Shook Wall Street to Its Core
It Started with Just Two Words
On January 7, 2021, Elon Musk tweeted “Use Signal” — and accidentally triggered one of the wildest stock market moments in recent memory. Meant as an endorsement of the secure messaging app Signal, the tweet was misinterpreted by investors who rushed to buy shares of an unrelated, small-cap company: Signal Advance, Inc. (OTC: SIGL).
What followed was a frenzy. The stock skyrocketed over 6,000% in just days. This seemingly minor event would ripple through financial markets, coinciding with — and arguably foreshadowing — a retail investor uprising that saw names like GameStop (GME), AMC (AMC), and BlackBerry (BB) explode in value. And at the center of it all? A meme-powered movement born on Reddit Inc. (NYSE: RDDT) community r/WallStreetBets and fueled by zero-commission trading platforms like Robinhood.
The Signal Confusion
Originally trading at just $0.60, Signal Advance shares began climbing after Musk’s tweet. The buying pressure intensified, not because of fundamentals or breaking news, but because of mistaken identity.
- January 7, 2021: Elon Musk tweets “Use Signal”
- January 11, 2021: Signal Advance hits an intraday high of $70.83, closing at $38.71
- Result: A 6,350%+ surge in three trading sessions
The company — a Texas-based firm specializing in signal processing — was in no way affiliated with the Signal messaging app. Still, the sudden spotlight thrust SIGL into the public consciousness, marking one of the first viral stock moments of the 2021 retail trading craze.
Where Are They Now?
Signal Advance (OTC: SIGL) Moves Beyond the Meme
While the 2021 rally was accidental, Signal Advance has since pivoted with purpose. Today, the company is aiming to transform the cybersecurity landscape with its patented Analog Guard® technology.
Unlike traditional digital encryption, Analog Guard® uses real-time signal transformation to protect critical data. This analog-based approach offers enhanced security that’s especially relevant in sectors where breaches can be catastrophic — including but not limited to:
- Financial Transactions
- Healthcare Systems
- Military Communications
In an age where cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated, Signal Advance is positioning itself as a pioneer of analog encryption in a world dominated by digital defenses.
The GameStop, Reddit, and r/WallStreetBets Phenomenon
While Signal Advance’s surge captured headlines, something bigger was brewing. Members of Reddit Inc.’s (NYSE: RDDT) r/WallStreetBets community had identified another opportunity: GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME).
Heavily shorted by institutional investors, GameStop became the battleground for what would soon be known as the meme stock revolution. Through coordinated buying and a flurry of social media posts, retail traders triggered a historic short squeeze:
- Early January 2021: GameStop trading around $17
- January 28, 2021: GameStop peaks at $483 intraday
The result? Billions in losses for hedge funds, and a seismic shift in how Wall Street viewed retail investors.
The Robinhood Controversy: Fuel and Friction for the Frenzy
As the meme stock mania reached its peak, Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) — the commission-free trading app widely used by retail investors — became both an enabler and a flashpoint. With its gamified interface and easy access, Robinhood empowered millions of first-time traders to jump into GME, AMC, and other high-volatility names.
But on January 28, 2021 — the same day GameStop hit its all-time high — Robinhood restricted buying of GME and several other meme stocks, citing liquidity constraints. The move was met with outrage across the retail investor community, accusations of market manipulation, and bipartisan backlash in Washington.
Robinhood’s actions sparked congressional hearings, spurred lawsuits, and deepened the divide between institutional finance and everyday investors — adding fuel to the narrative that Wall Street was playing by different rules.
The Ripple Effect on Other Stocks
Inspired by the GameStop movement, r/WallStreetBets members and other retail traders turned their attention to additional heavily shorted stocks. Companies like AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE: AMC), BlackBerry (NYSE: BB), and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) experienced dramatic spikes as part of the expanding meme stock ecosystem.
These stocks surged on collective sentiment, not fundamentals — highlighting a new era where retail investors, social media momentum, and frictionless trading platforms could rewrite market narratives overnight.
The Role of Social Media and Online Communities
The events surrounding Signal Advance, GameStop, and Robinhood underscored the growing influence of online communities in shaping market trends. Platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and Discord became modern trading floors — places where news, memes, and trading strategies spread at viral speed.
What once took analyst reports and Wall Street access could now be initiated by a meme and amplified by a tweet. The democratization of market access — powered by commission-free apps — fundamentally shifted who had influence over stock prices.
Conclusion
The 2021 market phenomenon proved that a tweet could move markets — and that collective retail action could challenge institutional dominance. From the mistaken surge of Signal Advance (OTC: SIGL) to the intentional short squeezes of GameStop, AMC, and the controversy surrounding Robinhood, a financial uprising was born.Today, Signal Advance has moved beyond its viral fame, pursuing real-world innovation in cybersecurity with Analog Guard®. Meanwhile, the influence of Reddit traders, social