There’s no briefer way of expressing thoughts on any social platform than Twitter, making more matter with less; more substance, less rhetoric. And of course, helping people fire quick witted shots at others too. But for the first time in history, the corporation announced yesterday (Tuesday) that its changing character count for tweets —from 140 characters to 280 characters. Essentially, tweets won’t have to be as clever anymore, rant threads would become clunky paragraphs, attention span will depreciate even more, and the world will come to an end.

In the beginning, the 140 tweet limit had resulted from text messaging. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters before they’re split in two texts. This was part of Twitter’s founding idea, to be able to fit tweets aptly into a text message —140 characters for the tweet, and 20 characters for the username. As usual, this is still the testing period. This new change for its character limit will include only those who tweet in certain languages, including English, Portuguese and Spanish. Primarily because Twitter character counts is more of a problem for some users in specific languages.

Twitter explained in a blog post that in Japanese, Korean and Chinese, people can convey twice as much information as languages like English and Spanish. Tweets sent in Japanese use 140 characters just 0.4% of the time, while English-language tweets hit 140 characters 9% of the time. Only a small group of people will get the new limit before Twitter launches it to everyone. But all users will be able to see longer tweets.

People will definitely embrace the change but not without some reactions first.

I think it’s time to leave Twitter dot com

— tyro (@DoubleEph) September 26, 2017

This place is going to end up as a blog last last

— tyro (@DoubleEph) September 27, 2017

The 280-character limit is a terrible idea. The whole beauty of Twitter is that it forces you to express your ideas concisely (1/47)

— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 26, 2017

Twitter is testing 280 Character Limit:
Twitter increase the character limit from 140 to 280 in tweets. Looks like we'll be able to see only 2 tweets (with summary card attached). Twitter's beauty is 140 characters awalys not 280 characters. #280Characters #TweetWithin140CharsPls

— vb (@vbzu) September 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/AdamNFleming/status/912976168839761921

Apparently Twitter has given me 280 characters to ramble on with even though I needed only 140 and really don't have that much to say at the moment, thereby misguidedly altering the core feature of its product, and possibly destroying it. Forever. Still more? No way. This sucks.

— Pedro Nicolaci da Costa (@pdacosta) September 27, 2017

While some are even complaining that the new change is very trivial to what the service should actually be looking forward to. Like adding an edit button!

https://twitter.com/BillionTwiTs/status/912975528847724544

https://twitter.com/NightfallGloam/status/912974330069315584

https://twitter.com/rogue_kvng/status/912973850559881216

Users may also argue Twitter should focus more on the harassment and abuse, despite the company’s efforts to better police it. Last year, the media was flooded with a slew of think-pieces claiming Twitter had a troll problem. But Twitter’s problem really is abuse. Abuse of free Speech. Somewhere in America, where many have called on Twitter to address the President Donald Trump’s use of the platform:

And in one stroke, Twitter doubles the complexity of our nation's foreign policy.

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/Impeach_D_Trump/status/912977615803355136

Dear Twitter, be careful what you wish for. #140Characters #280Characters pic.twitter.com/Tab6BEPn9I

— James Melville 🌸 (@JamesMelville) September 27, 2017

All this is privy to our think piece, which we wrote earlier in August, the coolness of Twitter is now in the past and the bird is on its way out. You should absolutely read it here.

Featured Image Credit: Debola Abimbolu/@Debola_abimbolu

Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

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