One of the most defining aspects of Twitter may be getting a permanent overhaul if its trial basis is received positively.
Since the platform's inception in 2006, a tweet has been comprised of 140 characters max. - meaning that people were forced to get their point across in a short, concise manner.
Now, it says that it's eliminating one of the reasons that prevents people from tweeting more regularly, and doubling the capacity of a tweet to 280 characters. "When people don’t have to cram their thoughts into 140 characters and actually have some to spare, we see more people tweeting,” they said in a blog post. "We understand since many of you have been tweeting for years, there may be an emotional attachment to 140 characters. But we tried this, saw the power of what it will do, and fell in love with this new, still brief, constraint.”
It's not yet clear whether the trial will be rolled out to all users, but it will begin "in small groups around the world."
You may think that having more room to share your opinion is a good thing, but not everybody was convinced and the announcement was met with a decidedly mixed opinion.
See below for the reaction:
The 280-character limit is a terrible idea. The whole beauty of Twitter is that it forces you to express your ideas concisely (1/47)
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 26, 2017
literally my only talent was being able to think of tweets exactly 140 characters long. i don't know if I will be able to alter this to 280.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 26, 2017
I truly believe the 280 character limit will be the death of Twitter.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) September 27, 2017
Speaking as one of the small group of people who've been selected to test the 280 character limit, please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please change it back you dreadful people.
— Mike Bird (@Birdyword) September 27, 2017
280 character Twitter is gonna be awesome. Political tweets on my timeline are now gonna be twice as annoying, can't wait ðŸ'? #280characters
— ROB TRAMONTE | GC™ðŸ”º (@RobTramonte) September 27, 2017
280 Characters? These 'Post Your Top X' threads are getting crazy. But here I go. The captain from Monk (1/280) pic.twitter.com/kVLh9cysaV
— Luke Maxwell (@LukeMaxwell) September 27, 2017
Lots to love abt 140 charctrs including being forced to clarify thoughts before writing.
Tho 280 means @realDonaldTrump will be pure gold.
— Mark Malone (@soundmigration) September 27, 2017
me writing tweets that are 280 characters. pic.twitter.com/kKZmBAEINf
— Phanto (@_wangwe) September 27, 2017
Trump: Hey Angela, @Twitter is increasing the character limit to 280!!!
Merkel: pic.twitter.com/0ilVXVgYFg
— Srecko Matic (@srecko_matic) September 27, 2017
I just saw my first thread composed of 280 character tweets. Twitter is dead. Go home folks, it's over.
— rubot æ³°å±± (@rubot) September 27, 2017
By increasing the character limit of a Tweet to 280, we feel like #DonaldTrump will be able to declare war much more easily #280characters
— Nava Mohan Rao (@iamnavamohan) September 27, 2017
140+140 =280. Now I know why twitter is introducing #280characters limit pic.twitter.com/kPmkZHIs8h
— Aakash (@PUNchayati) September 27, 2017
Twitter with 140 characters vs 280 characters. #280characters pic.twitter.com/RGUGsq4uIc
— Footlol (@Footlolz) September 27, 2017
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