Just a quick one.
Over the last year or so, Twitter has been changing its systems to allow people to use the full 140 characters to get their message across. Previously, tweets included all the other data gathered as part of the conversation.
First retweets were ‘removed’. Though I miss the old:
Sounds constructive @1755Dictionary RT @tonycowards: Tectonic plates, the perfect gift for the couple who are drifting apart.
— Marcus Elliott (@marcuselliott) November 21, 2011
or
RT @serafinowicz: I wonder if Catherine Beta Jones still exists.
— Marcus Elliott (@marcuselliott) March 7, 2010
Then pictures and gifs could be added for free, spawning:
@jamesclay @KerryPinny @marcuselliott @daveowhite pic.twitter.com/WqPYYj5chn
— Peter Bryant (@PeterBryantHE) March 15, 2017
@DonnaLanclos @Lawrie @sarahjenndavies @marcuselliott pic.twitter.com/1qTWp5LURI
— Peter Bryant (@PeterBryantHE) November 2, 2016
@DonnaLanclos @marcuselliott @KerryPinny @daveowhite pic.twitter.com/xQaHSR2qWv
— Peter Bryant (@PeterBryantHE) September 7, 2016
Well, most stuff Peter Bryant does online. Plus this:
Abstract for @A_L_T #altc17 submitted with partner in crime @marcuselliott. I'll be doing this until May #altc pic.twitter.com/MAFog8de9n
— Kerry Pinny (@KerryPinny) March 24, 2017
And now, the usernames are not counted for replies:
We're changing replies so that you have all 140 characters to express yourself.
Learn more: https://t.co/PNWGilbmVd pic.twitter.com/cxBJohZc2Q
— Twitter (@Twitter) March 30, 2017
This has caused some consternation on twitter:
Change is coming to #Twitter. Get ready to tag your entire high school class and everyone else you've ever met! https://t.co/6acL3t4iFD pic.twitter.com/zMYeiGM81k
— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) March 31, 2017
I have removed
the @s
that were in
yr tweetsand which
you probably liked
quite
a bitForgive me
I don't user test
or listen to
you ever— Kevin Church 🖖🏻 (@Kevin_Church) March 30, 2017
"Get me outta here" gonna be trending 24/7 from now on?#twitter #twitterupdate #worstmistakeever @support @twitter pic.twitter.com/3rIeabuEtn
— Dylan LW Vanderbraak (@vanderbraak) March 31, 2017
That last example looks hideous. However, the new update gives you the option.
I do quite a few tweetchats (#LTHEchat in particular), and get in to conversations that involve lots of people (mainly because of Lawrie Phipps and Donna Lanclos). As these conversations branch and morph, so the messages become more unwieldy.
I like the new update because it makes a few particular uses much easier. It shouldn’t affect day-to-day twittering:
@robertotoole @warwickAcTech @marcuselliott the biscuit banter is top notch
— Kerry Pinny (@KerryPinny) March 29, 2017
It really isn’t guys
As with all of these things, just because there is a function there, it doesn’t mean you have to use it. All this boils down to our digital practices and our digital capabilities.
PS: I might @ everyone I know on twitter with a link to this post