Why is the @ character ignored in search queries?

Channel:

Google Search Central

Subscribers:

751,000

Published on May 22, 2009 5:58:22 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El-d8YCNJm0

Duration: 0:49

6,287 views

11

Atul Arora from Fremont, CA asks:

"Any reason why Google search does not treat the @ symbol differently given the rise of Twitter? For example, @mattcutts and mattcutts give me the same results."

Recorded on April 23, 2009.