Twitter testing new conversation settings to let you restrict replies

[Brink]

Twitter is where you go to see and talk about what’s happening. But sometimes, unwanted replies make it hard to have meaningful conversations. (Ahem, reply guys.) Since last year, we’ve been working to give people more control over their conversations starting with the ability to hide replies. We also began trying out new ways to start conversations with casual, fleeting thoughts. And now, we’re testing new settings that let you choose who can reply to your Tweet and join your conversation.

Before you Tweet, you’ll be able to choose who can reply with three options: everyone (standard Twitter, and the default setting), only people you follow, or only people you mention. Tweets with the latter two settings will be labeled and the reply icon will be grayed out so that it’s clear for people if they can’t reply. People who can’t reply will still be able to view, Retweet, Retweet with Comment, and like these Tweets.

For now, only a limited group of people globally on Twitter for iOS, Android, and twitter.com can Tweet with these settings, but everyone can see these conversations. Learn more in our help center.

Being able to participate and understand what's happening is key for useful public conversation. So, we're exploring how we can improve these settings to give people more opportunities to weigh in while still giving people control over the conversations they start. In addition to this, we’re making it easier to read all conversations around a Tweet with a new layout for replies and more accessible Retweets with comments.

One thing we know for sure is that you'll be creative with this update. Maybe you'll host a debate on the benefits of pineapple on pizza (#TeamPineapple) with fellow pizza pals or invite a panel of distinguished guests for a fireside chat. You could even play a game of tic-tac-toe for people to follow along without messing up your moves. We’re excited to see what you do!

And as always, @ me with what you think.

Source: Testing, testing...new conversation settings

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[RoWin7]

One of the most useless sites on the web. You can't have meaningful conversations with a limited number of characters.

 

[file3456]

Yeah, it really is an asnine platform as well as Facebook and all the rest. I used to use Facebook, but backed out some four years ago and will never go back. As it was, I never used my real name. I do have Twitter, but that's mostly to stay abreast of what Github, hacker crap and other stuff is up to. It's also easy for me to complain to a company on Twitter as well.

 

[RoWin7]

I have a phony name and alternate email address on FB too. I've used it exactly once to complain to a company when I was desperate for help. They told me to use their email support, which I already had. Do you think Twitter is better for that purpose?

 

[file3456]

I have a phony name and alternate email address on FB too. I've used it exactly once to complain to a company when I was desperate for help. They told me to use their email support, which I already had. Do you think Twitter is better for that purpose?

Maybe, maybe not, depends on how good that company is at listening to customers. Did they ever get a JD Power award for customer service? No? Then don't expect much. Especially since you sent an email.

If they are really bad you can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I did that once with a game hosting company that had real crap support. Plus, my server would always lag out.

 

[quartzz]

this is Twitter (& yes, I do use it fairly regularly, having mostly left Fb. but it (Twitter) can be annoying)

 

[Alejandro85]

I've used it exactly once to complain to a company when I was desperate for help. They told me to use their email support, which I already had. Do you think Twitter is better for that purpose?

I know more than one case in which Twitter was definitely better at this purpose. A friend called an ISP asking for some support about outages and they didn't gave him a too good response and just make him "wait for a technician". Then he used Twitter to post a public message, tagging them, about the issue and "magically" they called him back to solve his problem.
Coincidence? I don't think so.

I wouldn't say that Twitter is better because it's Twitter. Companies HATE public shaming, and they happen to listen to Twitter, sometimes it's some other website. But frequently it's more helpful than their official communication ways (and that's say a lot about the company).

 

[quartzz]

this is (slightly?) off topic. but there is/was a site called trackalytics.com . they tracked twitter follower numbers for whatever acc't you typed in. very useful, and obviously not something that twitter was aware of? (because obv twitter want to charge for that info) because twitter have just stopped releasing exact follower numbers, so the twitter section of trackalytics no longer works

anyone know of sites that track (twitter) follower numbers on "any account you ask"? I wouldn't expect there to be (and was vaguely surprised when I found trackalytics existed 6 months ago)....it's the sort of information people want to make money out of

 

[file3456]

If it isn't allowed in the Twitter API, then there won't be a website capable of doing this. I guess the reason why the website existed prior was because the Twitter API allowed it.

 

[quartzz]

it does sort of make you wonder. was Twitter not aware of the information they were giving out? given that it's over 12 years old...had no-one at twitter realised what information was being released?

if I was twitter mgmt, I'd want to charge for this info