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 really released this exact functionality in March this year.
Simply 4 days later, Twitter removed the option to swipe between your algorithmically-defined ‘Home’ timeline and ‘Latest’ tweets.
Why?
As a result of individuals hated the ‘Home’ timeline strategy, which saved exhibiting them outdated tweets, tweets from those that they don’t comply with, tweets favored by their connections, and many others. As Twitter notes, the suggestions was clear – customers don’t need various timelines, they need the primary feed to be the most recent tweets.
We heard you –– a few of you all the time wish 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 Help (@TwitterHelp) March 14, 2022
Appears that Elon and Co. haven’t uncovered this suggestions as they comb by outdated Twitter docs, so that they’re rolling out once more, as ‘new Twitter navigation’.
Genius.
Look, there’s some worth in making it as straightforward as doable to modify between the algorithm-defined feed and the timeline of tweets from individuals that you simply comply with, in chronological order. Over the past month, Twitter has been making an attempt to push a wider vary of content material into the primary feed, so as to broaden tweet discovery, which has typically simply aggravated individuals, and due to this, Twitter will likely be hoping that this recycled side-swipe navigation will negate consumer frustration, whereas additionally enabling it to proceed pushing extra tweets into individuals’s feeds.
As a result of as TikTok has proven, AI-based suggestions, if you may get them proper, can drive increased engagement and retention. Twitter’s algorithm shouldn’t be there but, however Twitter needs to make sure that customers preserve that algo feed energetic, because it seeks to enhance its programs, and hopefully, maximize engagement by exhibiting extra individuals 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 useful content material – however a easy side-swipe will take you to the expertise that you simply really need.
Which isn’t what individuals need, as they clearly said when it was first launched. However once more, that is the best way with Twitter 2.0, a rehashing of outdated ideas and exams that Elon wasn’t conscious of after they have been first trialed, so that they’re new to him. And he sacked most of the people that would have defined to him why they didn’t work out initially.
However you do have to provide Elon and Co. credit score for one factor – they’re doing issues in another way. Whereas most different apps are copying one another, Twitter is copying itself.
I imply, the unique exams have been deserted for a motive, so it won’t be the perfect technique. However it positive is totally different.
