Twitter Erupts Over 280 Character Tweets: ‘140 Characters Closer to Armageddon’
“It’s What’s Happening” will now be happening at twice the character-count, as the social media platform Twitter finally increased the length of tweets from the original 140-characters to a doubled 280.
This afternoon, the official Twitter management account excitedly stated they are “expanding the character limit!”
We’re expanding the character limit! We want it to be easier and faster for everyone to express themselves.
More characters. More expression. More of what’s happening.https://t.co/wBpYdy1K40
— Twitter (@Twitter) November 7, 2017
However, Twitter users — or, at least, a lot of them — did not sound off with the same level of enthusiasm when the news broke. Many prominent figures who use the platform blasted the new 280-character limit, citing concerns that the new length will take away from the speed and character of Twitter. Others just want an edit button already.
See a number of reactions to 280-characters below:
140+140!
— jack (@jack) November 7, 2017
you gotta hand it to twitter for how little they care about user feedback. it takes skill to be this oblivious to popular opinion tbh https://t.co/811Uq3wTH3
— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) November 7, 2017
NOT NOW https://t.co/12uxR5NmM3
— Leigh Munsil (@leighmunsil) November 7, 2017
280 is as arbitrary a limit as 140, but Twitter tinkering with its last consistent principle indicates more flailing than vision.
— Kelsey D. Atherton (@AthertonKD) November 7, 2017
280 is good, stfu, you’ll all be fine, I remember when all of you were melting down collectively over the avatars now being circle shaped.
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) November 7, 2017
Burn it down https://t.co/2EVEgup2Q5
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) November 7, 2017
Make an edit button with the ability to click through to see the original uncorrected tweet https://t.co/nAVplquYnN
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 7, 2017
Twitter: Those who tested 280 characters hated it pretty quickly. So we’re expanding it to everyone. pic.twitter.com/7eSMnkV5Tb
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 7, 2017
I only need this many characters to tell you that 280 character Tweets are a bad idea.
— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) November 7, 2017
Why 280 character tweets are bad (1/2,749)
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) November 7, 2017
I don’t like this. https://t.co/oVMOCxa0gN
— Rebecca Shabad (@RebeccaShabad) November 7, 2017
Is this really true? Is this really true? Is this really true? Is this really true? Is this really true? Is this really true? Is this reall https://t.co/jY4WO0B2v4
— Jill Lawrence (@JillDLawrence) November 7, 2017
A tale in two acts.
Act I: https://t.co/ThsTCNO2A8
Act II: https://t.co/zL9ICQudP2 pic.twitter.com/SO83JeWSUg— Sarah Mimms (@SarahMMimms) November 7, 2017
140 characters closer to Armageddon. => https://t.co/qvyvLrlCm9
— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) November 7, 2017
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) November 7, 2017
Just in time for those election hot takes https://t.co/vKtPNklv8H
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) November 7, 2017
we’ll all get used to 280 characters and embrace it soon enough because we’re mindless sheep
— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) November 7, 2017
oh no https://t.co/nag922dv60
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) November 7, 2017
CBO to re-estimate impact of twitter's character limit.
— Mandate Truther (@petersuderman) November 7, 2017
[featured image via Twitter/screengrab]
