Twitter reacts to rumours of a Facebook-style algorithm
Ever since Twitter first launched, tweets have been presented in reverse chronological order.
But according to the internet jungle drums, the service is preparing to change how you experience the timeline by auto-editing your feed with a new algorithm.
Effectively Twitter will show you tweets that it ‘thinks’ you want to see. According to BuzzFeed News, it’s happening imminently. As early as next week.
Back in October, Twitter attempted to sort tweets by topic with its newsy Moments tab – a feature which has been widely derided. Don’t even get me started on ‘Who To Follow.”
It is unclear whether Twitter will force users to use the algorithmic feed, or it will merely be an option.
Here’s what users are saying about it…
The entire point of Twitter is that it's current and breaking. Adding an algorithm defeats its entire value proposition to users.
— Calvin (@aurosan) February 6, 2016
Twitter is switching to an algorithm to build a timeline for my interests which is cool except I've already done that with the FOLLOW button
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) February 6, 2016
All the best.#RIPTwitter
We don't want Twitter to look like this.
Your users
Dear Twitter.
— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) February 6, 2016
Twitter algorithm:
[(things you genuinely like) x 0] + [sponsored tweets]² + [Donald Trump retweeting white supremacists]³ * [Kardashians]
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 6, 2016
TWITTER:
-I don't want an algorithm feed
-I don't want a larger than 140 character limit
-What I want is A DAMN EIDT BUTON— Joseph Scrimshaw (@JosephScrimshaw) February 6, 2016
Hopefully Twitter's feed algorithm will use the same smart technology they created to wipe out online harassment.
— Prof. Jeff Jarvis (@ProfJeffJarvis) February 6, 2016
My @twitter algorithm is already working great, showing me curated tweets about how much everyone hates algorithmic curation of tweets.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) February 6, 2016
A look at Twitter before and after the algorithm news: pic.twitter.com/tAkAbNuNe1
— Stormchasernick (@stormchasernick) February 6, 2016
I hope my twitter algorithm can figure out that i like seeing every tweet in my timeline appear in chronological order. #RIPTwitter
— Smo (@Smomotion) February 6, 2016
*twitter adds algorithm to show by tweets by relevance*
*feed is completely blank*— FRO VO (@fro_vo) February 6, 2016
Think about it, with an algorithm you might never see a tweet from specific people ever again. RIP Twitter.
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) February 6, 2016
Twitter is in a relationship with Facebook and "it's complicated."
— Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) February 6, 2016
TWITTER ALGORITHM PROCESSING pic.twitter.com/0mDKDiU0xR
— Poe Zandaron (@ZandarVTS) February 6, 2016
Can you imagine algorithm Twitter on election night? With hours-old information trumping new? Dated exit polls trumping new results?
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) February 6, 2016
The two things I'm sure of are:
1. The algorithmic timeline thing won't be as bad as we reckon
2. Twitter will eventually ruin itself though— keri (@kerihw) February 6, 2016
Go home Twitter, you're drunk!#RIPtwitter
Hopefully Twitter's new algorithm will use the same intelligent technology that created 'Moments' and 'Who To Follow' #TwitterAlgorithm
— The Poke (@ThePoke) February 6, 2016