Was Facebook Stoned When They Chose Status Limit?

A Facebook friend posted a status update that caught my attention last night.

The post:  "Um, when did Facebook start limiting status updates to 420 characters (and which prankster inside Facebook decided on the number 420)?"

Good question.

First, it is true that the character limit is 420. Just try to enter 421 characters.

It could be a coincidence, which would be boring. Or it could be a character inside Facebook having a little fun with the character limit.

Facebook is based in Palo Alto, Calif. and the origin of 420 (pronounced four-twenty) is just up the road north of the Golden Gate.

Students at San Rafael High School would meet at exactly 4:20 p.m. to smoke pot.

That story spread and has become pot-loving lore with celebrations near and far on April 20.

We have calls in to Facebook for comment.

A spokeswoman said she was looking into it and would get back to us, but we were still waiting on a return call at 5 p.m.

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