If Twitter’s expansion to 280 characters just wasn’t enough, then its new ‘threads’ feature could be the answer.
The feature will allow users to compose a series of separate Tweets using a new ‘plus’ button.
The firm is rolling out these updates to everyone on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com ‘in the coming week’s.
To create a thread, users can simply click the plus button in the composer – and Twitter does the rest
‘A few years ago we noticed people creatively stitching Tweets together to share more information or tell a longer story,’ wrote Sasank Reddy of Twitter, revealing the feature.
‘We saw this approach (which we call ‘threading’) as an innovative way to present a train of thought, made up of connected but individual elements.
‘We’re thrilled to share that we’re making it simpler to thread Tweets together, and to find threads, so it’s easier to express yourself on Twitter and stay informed.’
To create a thread, Twitter added a new ‘plus’ button to its apps.
Users can continue adding more Tweets to their published thread at any time with the new ‘Add another Tweet’ button.
Additionally, it’s now simpler to spot a thread with an obvious ‘Show this thread’ label.
‘A few weeks ago, we expanded our character count to make it easier for people to fit what they’re thinking into a Tweet,’ it said.
‘But we know people also may want to serialize a longer story or thought, or provide ongoing commentary on an event or topic.
‘That’s where this update to threads comes in! You’ve been using threads in creative ways like these for years – the ways and reasons to thread your Tweets are limited only by your imagination.’
The blog Android Police reported that the new Tweetstorm feature was appearing for some Android alpha app users earlier this year – a platform for testing early versions of apps.
Twitter confirmed to TechCrunch that the Tweetstorm feature has been in testing on alpha and beta iOS and Android programs – and the version shared by Android police has been tested for weeks.
The news follows Twitter’s recent character limit expansion from 140 to 280 characters.
Twitter’s new extended character limit, combined with the Tweetstorm feature, will enable people to post much longer thoughts
The social network said it hoped the move would stop people having to ‘cram’ their thoughts into 140 characters.
Even without the Tweetstorm feature, Twitter users still compose their own Tweetstorms by posting successive Tweets.
It’s used by everyone from the likes of President Donald Trump, to people telling suspenseful or personal stories.
Each of the new Tweetstorm tweets will be able to support the new 280-character limit, and each will be able to stand alone and can be shared, retweeted or replied to individually.
Images of the test-version of the feature also show the ability to cancel the tweets before they’re posted.
If the new feature is available to you, you’ll be able to hit a ‘+’ button on the right side of Twitter’s compose screen, where you also find the buttons for adding photos, GIFs, polls and geographical location.
The new feature will allow users to compose a series of separate Tweets, and press a ‘Tweet all’ button to send all of the Tweets out in consecutive order. Images of the test-version of the feature show the ability to cancel the tweets before they’re posted
Tapping this button allows users to compose separates tweets, and when finished, the user taps the ‘Tweet All’ button to post them all – after which they’re queued and posted consecutively.
The feature may operate differently once it’s actually released, following testing.
Twitter’s new extended character limit, combined with the new Tweetstorm feature, will enable people to post much longer thoughts, and it could cause Twitter news feeds to become clogged with long winded tweets.
TWITTER’S 280- CHARACTER LIMIT
Twitter’s trial of a 280-character limit was expanded to users globally.
The expanded limit was rolled out to users in all languages except Chinese, Japanese and Korean – languages where cramming in tweets is not an issue, the company said.
The social network said it hoped the move would stop people having to ‘cram’ their thoughts into 140 characters.
Many Twitter users reacted took to Twitter to react to the news, with some eagerly awaiting to receive the feature while others criticized it.
Some of the key findings of the trial run were:
- When people needed to use more than 140 characters, they Tweeted more easily and more often. However, people still Tweeted below 140 most of the time and the brevity of Twitter was maintained.
- 9% of Tweets in English hit the character limit historically, highlighting the challenge of fitting a thought into a Tweet and leading to time spent editing or abandoning Tweets. However, with the expanded character limit, this problem was reduced to only 1 per cent of Tweets running to the limit.
- Only 5% of Tweets sent were longer than 140 characters.
Twitter’s expanded limit was rolled out to users in all languages except Chinese, Japanese and Korean – languages where cramming in tweets is not an issue
Source: Twitter