Twitter Have Made Some Interesting Changes, The Most Drastic Since It Launched

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Twitter thinks your followers should see all those angry tweets you’ve sent to companies (who probably deserved it).

This week Twitter announced a series of changes to the 140-character limit. The changes were the site’s biggest since it launched in 2006 and while some were welcomed others are downright contentious.

The straightforward changes:

  • @names in your Twitter replies won’t count towards the 140 character limit.
  • GIFs, Videos and the tweets you quote won’t count towards the 140 character limit.

Other changes will trip you up:

  • Direct tweets no longer exist.

In the past Twitter assumed tweets that began with @username were direct messages to that user. These tweets were hidden from your followers unless there was a full stop before the username. Now the .@ is dead and your followers will be treated to the angry tweets you send to Ticketmaster when their website glitches.

Replies stay the same. Only people who follow you and the person you’ve tweeted will see them.

One change was just straight up narcissistic:

  • You can now retweet yourself.

So what does this mean for you? It depends how you feel about Twitter fall into three broad categories:

1.              You’re part of the Twitterarti, the dedicated few who tweet even when QandA isn’t on, and can quote yourself to your heart’s content.

2.             You’re freaking out now that everyone will be able to see all those stupid tweets you’ve sent to QandA and prayed they didn’t make the show’s public feed.

3.              You don’t care because Twitter is for older people or banks.

Either way, we look forward to seeing more tweets like this one.

Oh and this guy, too.

And this one.

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