Update 2: Biz posted on the blog again showing that Twitter is taking users’ feelings on the matter seriously:
So here’s what we’re planning to do. First, we’re making a change such that any updates beginning with @username (that are not explicitly created by clicking on the reply icon) will be seen by everyone following that account. This will bring back some serendipity and discovery and we can do this very soon.
Second, we’ve started designing a new feature which will give folks far more control over what they see from the accounts they follow. This will be a per-user setting and it will take a bit longer to put together but not too long and we’re already working on it. Thanks for all the great feedback and thanks for helping us discover what’s important!
Update: Biz Stone has posted to the blog again and had these things to say:
The engineering team reminded me that there were serious technical reasons why that setting had to go or be entirely rebuilt—it wouldn’t have lasted long even if we thought it was the best thing ever…
One of the strongest signals is that folks were using this setting to discover and follow new and interesting accounts—this is something we absolutely want to support. Our product, design, user experience, and technical teams have started brainstorming a way to surface a new, scalable way to address this need.
Original Article: Twitter has made what it calls a “small settings update,” but it has sent a huge tidal wave through the tweeting community. Given the real-time nature of Twitter, it did not take long to cause such a stir.
Twitter updated the Notices section of Settings, affecting how users utilize replies. “Based on usage patterns and feedback, we’ve learned most people want to see when someone they follow replies to another person they follow—it’s a good way to stay in the loop,” said Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone. “However, receiving one-sided fragments via replies sent to folks you don’t follow in your timeline is undesirable.”
The Twitterverse and the Blogopshere beg to differ. The general consensus seems to be that users do desire the ability to see replies from people they don’t know, because it provides an excellent way to discover new people to follow.
Twitter users have banded together to overturn the update by voicing their complaints using the #fixreplies hashtag. Not surprisingly, this is the top trending topic.
Twitter’s Response
“Spotting new folks in tweets is an interesting way to check out new profiles and find new people to follow,” says Stone on the Twitter Blog. “Despite this update, you’ll still see mentions or references linking to people you don’t follow. For example, you’ll continue to see, “Ev meeting with @biz about work stuff” even if you don’t follow @biz. We’ll be introducing better ways to discover and follow interesting accounts as we release more features in this space.”
After reading much of the feedback voiced by users, Twitter CEO Evan Williams said in a tweet that they would be considering alternatives on the replies issue. He has also noted that the change does not effect retweeting and there is no change to people replying to you.
What do you think about the update? Share your opinion.
