Elon Musk’s ‘Twitter 2.0’ actually ought to actually be titled ‘Twitter 1.5’, as a result of none of his touted ‘new’ additions to this point are literally new in any respect, they’re all simply variations of previous Twitter experiments, which Elon’s then re-pitching as upgrades, as he foists them upon the platform’s customers.
Musk’s newest ‘new’ addition is that this:
Sound acquainted? That’s as a result of Twitter truly launched this actual performance in March this yr.
Simply 4 days later, Twitter eliminated the choice to swipe between your algorithmically-defined ‘House’ timeline and ‘Newest’ tweets.
Why?
As a result of folks hated the ‘House’ timeline strategy, which saved exhibiting them previous tweets, tweets from those who they don’t observe, tweets favored by their connections, and so on. As Twitter notes, the suggestions was clear – customers don’t need different timelines, they need the principle feed to be the most recent tweets.
We heard you –– a few of you at all times need to see newest Tweets first. We have switched the timeline again and eliminated the tabbed expertise for now whereas we discover different choices. https://t.co/euVcPr9ij6
— Twitter Assist (@TwitterSupport) March 14, 2022
Appears that Elon and Co. haven’t uncovered this suggestions as they comb by previous Twitter docs, so that they’re rolling out once more, as ‘new Twitter navigation’.
Genius.
Look, there’s some worth in making it as simple as potential to modify between the algorithm-defined feed and the timeline of tweets from folks that you just observe, in chronological order. During the last month, Twitter has been attempting to push a wider vary of content material into the principle feed, with the intention to broaden tweet discovery, which has typically simply aggravated folks, and due to this, Twitter shall be hoping that this recycled side-swipe navigation will negate person frustration, whereas additionally enabling it to proceed pushing extra tweets into folks’s feeds.
As a result of as TikTok has proven, AI-based suggestions, if you will get them proper, can drive increased engagement and retention. Twitter’s algorithm is just not there but, however Twitter desires to make sure that customers hold that algo feed energetic, because it seeks to enhance its methods, and hopefully, maximize engagement by exhibiting extra folks extra stuff that they’ll like within the app.
As such, you’ll be able to count on that Twitter will nonetheless proceed to open to the present feed of adopted and really helpful content material – however a easy side-swipe will take you to the expertise that you just truly need.
Which isn’t what folks need, as they clearly acknowledged when it was first launched. However once more, that is the best way with Twitter 2.0, a rehashing of previous ideas and checks that Elon wasn’t conscious of once they have been first trialed, so that they’re new to him. And he sacked most people that might have defined to him why they didn’t work out initially.
However you do have to offer Elon and Co. credit score for one factor – they’re doing issues in a different way. Whereas most different apps are copying one another, Twitter is copying itself.
I imply, the unique checks have been deserted for a motive, so it may not be the very best technique. But it surely positive is totally different.
