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Twitter tests 'notes' feature with 2,500 word limit | Twitter tests 'notes' feature with 2,500 word limit |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Twitter is trialling a new feature allowing users to share "notes" as long as 2,500 words. | Twitter is trialling a new feature allowing users to share "notes" as long as 2,500 words. |
The social media platform normally limits posts to 280 characters. | The social media platform normally limits posts to 280 characters. |
Twitter said the move was a response to seeing people use the platform to post pictures of longer announcements and steer followers to outside newsletters. | Twitter said the move was a response to seeing people use the platform to post pictures of longer announcements and steer followers to outside newsletters. |
The test will run for two months and involve a small group of writers in Canada, Ghana, the UK and US. | The test will run for two months and involve a small group of writers in Canada, Ghana, the UK and US. |
The new feature aims to keep audiences in the Twitter eco-system, with readers able to see a headline and access the longer note by clicking on a link. | The new feature aims to keep audiences in the Twitter eco-system, with readers able to see a headline and access the longer note by clicking on a link. |
"Since the company's earliest days, writers have depended on Twitter to share their work, get noticed, be read, create conversation - everything but the actual writing," the company said, making the announcement using the new Notes product. | "Since the company's earliest days, writers have depended on Twitter to share their work, get noticed, be read, create conversation - everything but the actual writing," the company said, making the announcement using the new Notes product. |
"With Notes, the goal is to fill in that missing piece." | "With Notes, the goal is to fill in that missing piece." |
The move follows Twitter's purchase last year of Revue, a Dutch newsletter start-up. | The move follows Twitter's purchase last year of Revue, a Dutch newsletter start-up. |
On Wednesday, it said it was folding Revue into the new Notes product, which allows writers to embed gifs, photos and other features into long-form essays that can be read on and off Twitter. | On Wednesday, it said it was folding Revue into the new Notes product, which allows writers to embed gifs, photos and other features into long-form essays that can be read on and off Twitter. |
Users will also be able to edit their notes after they have been published. | Users will also be able to edit their notes after they have been published. |
Elon Musk hints at potential Twitter layoffs | Elon Musk hints at potential Twitter layoffs |
Twitter confirms it is working on an edit button | Twitter confirms it is working on an edit button |
Social media expert Dr Laura Toogood said the trial was a significant step for Twitter. She said the feature would encourage people to stay within the platform itself, rather than linking out to other websites that can host long-form content. | Social media expert Dr Laura Toogood said the trial was a significant step for Twitter. She said the feature would encourage people to stay within the platform itself, rather than linking out to other websites that can host long-form content. |
"Adding this extra capability means that Twitter is now in a position to compete with some of the popular blogging platforms and potentially attract a new audience and a different type of user," she told the BBC. | "Adding this extra capability means that Twitter is now in a position to compete with some of the popular blogging platforms and potentially attract a new audience and a different type of user," she told the BBC. |
"It will also encourage existing users to blog within Twitter, rather than move to other websites for this purpose, which will help to retain their audience." | "It will also encourage existing users to blog within Twitter, rather than move to other websites for this purpose, which will help to retain their audience." |
In 2017 Twitter increased the maximum number of characters for tweets from 140 to 280, following a trial among a small group of users. | In 2017 Twitter increased the maximum number of characters for tweets from 140 to 280, following a trial among a small group of users. |
The latest move comes amid scrutiny of the Twitter's business prospects, as Elon Musk's planned takeover of the company raises questions about its direction. | The latest move comes amid scrutiny of the Twitter's business prospects, as Elon Musk's planned takeover of the company raises questions about its direction. |
The firm announced in April it was working on an edit button, shortly after Mr Musk - who had called for such a feature - revealed he had bought a large stake in the company. Twitter said the events were unrelated. | The firm announced in April it was working on an edit button, shortly after Mr Musk - who had called for such a feature - revealed he had bought a large stake in the company. Twitter said the events were unrelated. |
Mr Musk has also said he sees potential in a subscription model in which people would pay to use the platform. | Mr Musk has also said he sees potential in a subscription model in which people would pay to use the platform. |
Dr Nikki Usher, a journalism professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said it was hard to know whether Twitter was trying out new formats out of profitability or a genuine desire to try to improve the platform. | Dr Nikki Usher, a journalism professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said it was hard to know whether Twitter was trying out new formats out of profitability or a genuine desire to try to improve the platform. |
"In this case, one of the things we do know is that people do not like to read long texts online," they told the BBC. | |
"So whether giving people 2,500 characters to work with will ultimately make a difference in the quality of the digital public sphere - well, I think it's unlikely. Is it a chance to grab headlines in advance of some major changes at the company? Absolutely." | "So whether giving people 2,500 characters to work with will ultimately make a difference in the quality of the digital public sphere - well, I think it's unlikely. Is it a chance to grab headlines in advance of some major changes at the company? Absolutely." |