The changes that Twitter executives want to implement in the fastest growing social media to date made netizens cringed.
The massive change would replace the current reverse-chronological feed so beloved by current users who complain the social media site is becoming just like Facebook.
The current format allows for all tweets from people a person follows to be displayed in their timeline as well as options for custom lists.
According to Huffington post, an algorithmic timeline would allow for Twitter to bring what it deems more popular content to feature more prominently.
Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, said in July: “We continue to show a questioning of our fundamentals in order to make the product easier and more accessible to more people.”
According to Buzzfeed, it has learned the new feature could be brought in as early as next week – but it is not known if Twitter users will have a choice.
Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass and quickly became one of the world’s most popular social media tools and now has over 320 million active users.
#RIPTwitter is trending in Philippines and worldwide on #1 spot with people voicing their despair at the transition. Here are some of the tweets:
We used to love you Twitter But #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/ave6UNnz3J
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) February 6, 2016
This is Twitter.
It tries to be stupid like Facebook.
Twitter is being dumb.
Don't be like Twitter.#RIPTwitter— beyza (@heeqhul) February 6, 2016
Cmon Twitter don't turn this into Facebook like. #RIPTwitter
— 🍎Byrne/BMac/Carter (@Sweet_apple143) February 6, 2016
Dear @twitter – This is the dumbest idea ever. Do you not even use your own site so you can understand your users? #RIPTwitter
— Kim (@Zoodlemouse13) February 6, 2016
Before #RIPTwitter – After, #RIPTwitter . pic.twitter.com/Sm5OJ7U2aY
— Riz (@johncenaAm) February 6, 2016
Don't pretend just be your self #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/Nsc0cGhcUx
— ☆พี่หมีไงต๊ะ☆ (@totallyjays) February 6, 2016
Dear @twitter If I wanted to use Facebook I would reactivate my account. You're no longer original to me #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/b4pxzqFLBU
— Yoda (@OnlyYoda) February 6, 2016
Meanwhile, Marketing Land explained why Twitter wants to shift into algorithmic timeline.
Why is Twitter Thinking About This?
There’s a good reason why Twitter might want to add an algorithmic timeline to its service. That’s because it can be useful. There is indeed a lot of “noise” that can drown out the “signal” on the service, where it can be hard to find popular or interesting tweets if you’re just browsing for general entertainment.
In particular, there’s a strong sense in some quarters — not necessarily true — that Twitter isn’t helpful or friendly to new users, plus a thought that existing users might not engage as much because there’s so much noise. In turn, this has investors in particular worried about Twitter, which puts pressure on Twitter to look at ways to change.
That pressure isn’t going to disappear. Unfortunately, Twitter will constantly be compared to Facebook in terms of financial performance and expectations, even though the two services are fundamentally different.
Facebook is a huge social platform with multiple brands and which serves multiple needs. Twitter remains largely what Twitter has always been, a social media outlet where people talk directly to each other, about others and about things in general.
What can you say about the issue? #RIPTwitter