Twitter users trended the hashtag #RIPTwitter after the platform revealed that it is testing a story-like feature that will be named ‘Fleets’. According to Kayvon Beykpour, who announced the coming feature, the test first commences in Brazil.
Beykpour is a product manager at Twitter and he is the one Jack Dorsey says can verify users when Beykpour profile clearly states: “SORRY I’M NOT THE “VERIFICATION GOD” AND WON’T BE ABLE TO VERIFY YOU”.
Late on 4th March 2020, he had tweeted about the Fleets feature via his page. First, explaining why the feature was being considered, he said:
People often tell us that they don’t feel comfortable Tweeting because Tweets can be seen and replied to by anybody, feel permanent and performative (how many Likes & Retweets will this get!?). Many of us can probably empathize with this: https://t.co/LW2xWlctZi
— Kayvon Beykpour (@kayvz) March 4, 2020
Following this tweet, he announced the Twitter Fleets feature:
We’ve been listening to this feedback and working to create new capabilities that address some of the anxieties that hold people back from talking on Twitter. Today, in Brazil only, we’re starting a test (on Android and iOS) for one of those new capabilities. It’s called Fleets. pic.twitter.com/6MLs8irb0c
— Kayvon Beykpour (@kayvz) March 4, 2020
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According to Beykpour’s other tweets, Fleets will disappear after 24 hours. People cannot also retweet, like or reply to them. Those who wish to reply to them will do so via reply and they can only see Fleets by clicking on people’s Twitter profile.
While this seemed to make sense, Twitter users reacted negatively. Many, using the #RIPTwitter hashtag, criticised the move stating that it made the platform seem like Facebook and Instagram (which are popular for the Stories feature).
Other users said that they would prefer the ‘Edit’ which Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s CEO, had said would not be coming anytime soon. See some of their Tweets below:
We want edit button, not stories.
Anyone who wants stories can go to Instagram and Facebook #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/Nj1O1vwgHg— Fanny-ZN 🇿🇦 (@fanny_miz) March 5, 2020
#RIPTwitter
So Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram are pretty much the same thing now pic.twitter.com/lmP8VBKUKy— Neil Malope (@neil_malope) March 5, 2020
What do you think? Are Twitter executives killing the app’s uniqueness or will the Fleets feature improve use?
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