Twitter’s plan to introduce Facebook-like timeline has users wailing and in high numbers. Just take a look at the number of results filtered by #RIPTwitter.
Twitter’s plan to introduce Facebook-like timeline has users wailing and in high numbers. Just take a look at the number of results filtered by #RIPTwitter.
It’s been awhile since Twitter officials have been warming up the public for a gradual change from the reverse chronological order timeline to a more Facebook-like timeline. That the feature was in the workings has been confirmed by several tech websites. Last year’s Q2 earnings call also brought Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to confirm that the microblogging site continues to question the reverse chronological order timeline.
Now, the anticipated tweak to Twitter’s timeline is almost here. Recent reports say that the new Twitter timeline may come as soon as next week. However, the Facebook-like timeline would be fully opt in. If you’re among those Twitter users who love their reverse chronological order timeline as it is, you still have the option to remain faithful to it.
One possible reason for the tweak to Twitter’s timeline is users’ reactions to having a number of tweets buried way down in the feeds list. Scrolling endlessly through one’s timeline is time-consuming. As such, Twitter decided to do something about it.
The newly introduced algorithm would surface most relevant and popular tweets first. Only afterwards would the rest of the tweets appear. Much like Facebook’s Top Stories News Feed, Twitter’s new algorithm would select tweets based on relevance and popularity.
According to some users, a Facebook-like timeline isn’t such a bad idea. First of all, it would clean up the messy excess info available at the moment. Too many tweets are distracting. If they were ordered based on relevance and popularity, scrolling through them should become one notch easier.
However, Twitter’s plan to introduce Facebook-like timeline has users wailing. Upon tests being noticed here and there, a new hashtag is now holding the headlines: #RIPTwitter. Switching from a reversed chronological order timeline to one refined by popularity and relevance isn’t some Twitter users’ cup of tea. They complain about content being diluted, losing its relevance in fact and the microblogging site becoming increasingly like Facebook.
If the new Twitter timeline is rolling out next week, users at least have the option to choose between the two formats. Twitter may believe the new algorithm could change the prospects of the heavily tried microblogging site.
Ad revenue is going down, senior level execs are leaving the company, while Twitter’s monthly active users base is shrinking. Investors have a grim look regarding the company’s perspective. Yet CEO Jack Dorsey still believes in Twitter’s potential. It remains to be seen if the fact that Twitter’s plan to introduce Facebook-like timeline has users wailing can be changed around.
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