Twitter users went crazy over the weekend after reports that Twitter was changing its News Feed to an algorithm which would reorder news it thinks people want to see, #RIPTwitter trended until CEO Jack Dorsey tried to calm people’s nerves.
The Buzzfeed report claimed “The timeline will reorder tweets based on what Twitter’s algorithm thinks people most want to see, a departure from the current feed’s reverse chronological order.
“Twitter has been testing the algorithmic timeline with a small group of users. It appears the test went well enough to roll it out more broadly.”
The algorithm change would be an expansion of the ‘while you were away feature’; Twitter users will see highlights from the time they weren’t one the platform, pull to refresh, and they will get the regular in-order feed.
The timeline change did not go down well with Twitter users; many accusing Twitter of copying Facebook’s algorithm and others threatening to leave the platform if the change occurs:
#RIPTwitter
Dear @jack, it’s complicated so we’ll try againWe want:
Edit buttonWe don’t want:
Algo timeline
Hearts
A new window to reply— Karin Richards (@Richards_Karin) February 7, 2016
Soon as Twitter becomes Facebook, I’m out of here! #RIPTwitter — Brian Nufc (@Brian_NUFC) February 7, 2016
#RIPTwitter You want my Timeline? Come get it…. pic.twitter.com/yTOherq6hm
— Dr. Prepper (@BobcatWild) February 7, 2016
all we wanted was an edit tweet button. #RIPTwitter — ♣️Pete Bish♣️️ (@peterbishop17) February 7, 2016
RT @NYC: When you first notice @twitter turning into facebook:#RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/ddfdnZg8LM
— Sandra de Haan (@Sandra_de_Haan) February 7, 2016
Birth and death of @Twitter #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/guha7xhmWE — Myteks Media Labs (@myteks) February 6, 2016
Using an algorithm to dictate what users see will silence the many great voices yet to be discovered. #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/Qrw8BpWlXp
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) February 6, 2016
When you find out Twitter is switching to an algorithmic timeline #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/hOCK0S9FxL — 32K AROOJ (@imarooj) February 6, 2016
One of the great rewards of being an adult is deciding ON YOUR OWN who (and what) you should be interested in. #RIPTwitter
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) February 6, 2016
“Tweets will soon be arranged by most relevant instead of time” #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/WyEB0LFjaL — Riz. (@johncenaAm) February 7, 2016
New twitter algorithm will mean your timeline will only be Donald Trump’s drafts folder.#RIPTwitter
— Jazz Twemlow (@JazzTwemlow) February 6, 2016
Twitter employees are currently reading people’s reactions in the #RIPTwitter feed like… pic.twitter.com/HZDPxWDuEe — Bandolier Media (@BandolierMedia) February 6, 2016
Twitter employees did indeed panic, senior software engineer Brandon Carpenter and CEO Jack Dorsey both tried to allay fears:
Seriously people. We aren’t idiots. Quit speculating about how we’re going to “ruin Twitter”
— Brandon Carpenter (@bhcarpenter) February 6, 2016
Wow people on Twitter are mean
— Brandon Carpenter (@bhcarpenter) February 6, 2016
Hello Twitter! Regarding #RIPTwitter: I want you all to know we’re always listening. We never planned to reorder timelines next week.
— Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016
Twitter can help make connections in real-time based on dynamic interests and topics, rather than a static social/friend graph. We get it.
— Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016
I *love* real-time. We love the live stream. It’s us. And we’re going to continue to refine it to make Twitter feel more, not less, live!
— Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016
Thank you all for your passion and trust. We will continue to work to earn it, and we will continue to listen, and talk!
— Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016
B&T has contacted Twitter Australia for a comment, a representative said no further comment beyond what Jack Dorsey has already tweeted.
