Justin Bieber Hits 14 Million Followers on Twitter

Justin Bieber has hit the magical number of 14 million -- that's the number of followers he now has on Twitter.

The 17-year-old, who first started using the social networking Web site nearly three years ago, fittingly took to Twitter to write about his new number.

and oh yeah... 14 MILLION FOLLOWERS!! I LOVE YALL!!! THANK YOU!! The family keeps growing and we will never stop! #TEAMBIEBER GOES HARD!!! Bieber wrote on Thursday morning.

Naturally, Twitter has been trending with JUSTIN HITS 14 MILLION FOLLOWERS all day Thursday. The singer, who just released his Christmas album Under the Mistletoe, has been receiving messages of congratulations from his fans, with some using hashtags including #proudofjustin, #14million, #neversaynever, #14millionbeliebers and #TEAMBIEBER.

With 14 million followers, Bieber is still behind the most followed user on Twitter: Lady Gaga.

As of Thursday afternoon, Gaga, who joined Twitter nearly four years ago, had more than 15 million followers.

Katy Perry (11 million), Kim Kardashian (10 million) and Barack Obama (10 million) round out the top five most followed users on Twitter.

Bieber's 14 million mark is nothing compared to another high number he achieved this week: 2 billion.

On Monday, Bieber became the first person on YouTube to reach 2 billion views on his channel. In this realm, Bieber is ahead of Lady Gaga, whose view count is currently at 1.8 billion. In October 2010, Lady Gaga was the first to reach the 1 billion views mark.

An active Twitter user and frequent retweeter of his fans, Bieber has posted an impressive 11,877 Tweets, while Lady Gaga has only written on the site 1,078 times.

That puts Bieber in the range of CNN Breaking News (13,019 Tweets), Khloe Kardashian (23,314 Tweets) and P. Diddy (16,576 Tweets).

To mark Bieber's Twitter achievement, here are some of his most recent Tweets to his 14 million followers.

On his 'Otis' rap: @kanyewest and @jayz i told u i got something for u. haha. much respect fellas . . . let's be clear. i love hip hop and i write my own rhymes. hi haterz ;) (Nov. 3, 2011)

On his fans: my fans are like my glasses..yeah..without them i'd be blurry! #ILOVEMYFANS!! (Nov. 3, 2011)

On Jaden Smith: having a great sunday hangin with @officialjaden #brotherfromanothermother (Oct. 30, 2011)

On work ethic: we work hard. we play hard. still me. r u? (Oct. 22, 2011)

On Boyz II Men: letting all my fans know. I learned how to sing listening to @BoyzIIMen. they are the greatest and u need to fllow and get this new album! (Oct. 20, 2011)

On his fans, again: Hands Down the BEST FANS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!! I LOVE U #Belebibers!! THANK U!! (Oct. 17, 2011)

To follow Justin Bieber on Twitter, along with his 14 million followers, click here.

Also read: Watch Justin Bieber Rap to Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Otis' [VIDEO]