Elon Musk’s Twitter: All the pieces you could know, from layoffs to verification
2023-05-25 20:22:09
Welcome to Elon Musk’s Twitter, the place the principles are made up and the examine marks don’t matter.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO first introduced his bid to purchase Twitter in April 2022, zealously pushed to rid the platform of spam bots and defend free speech.
“That is simply my sturdy, intuitive sense that having a public platform that’s maximally trusted and broadly inclusive is extraordinarily essential to the way forward for civilization,” Musk mentioned at a TED convention on the day he made his provide. “I don’t care concerning the economics in any respect.”
Even for one of many richest males on the earth, $44 billion is some huge cash to cough as much as purchase a middling social platform. Regardless of his fervent declarations about increasing “the scope and scale of consciousness” by public discourse, the billionaire bought chilly toes. A month later in Could, he tried to kill the deal, claiming that Twitter had extra bots than its public filings let on. After a really chaotic authorized discovery course of, which even included some embarrassing texts, Musk was pressured to seal the deal. By October, the platform was his.
Since Musk purchased Twitter and took the corporate non-public, the information across the microblogging platform has been a whirlwind, rife with verification chaos, API entry shakeups, ban reversals and staggering layoffs. Most lately, Musk tweeted that he’ll transition from his position as Twitter CEO to serving as its govt chair and CTO. It was introduced on Could 12 that Linda Yaccarino will step in as the subsequent Twitter CEO. Yaccarino will likely be leaving her position as chairman of World Promoting & Partnerships at NBCU.
If you happen to’re simply catching up, right here’s a whole timeline of what’s happening on the hen app, beginning with the newest information:
Could 2023
Twitter Blue customers can now add two-hour movies
Twitter made adjustments to its paid plan, permitting subscribers to add two-hour movies — increasing the earlier 60-minute restrict.
The corporate additionally modified its Twitter Blue web page and mentioned the video file measurement restrict for paid customers is now elevated from 2GB to 8GB. Whereas earlier longer video add was solely attainable from the online, now it’s additionally attainable by the iOS app. Regardless of these adjustments, the utmost high quality for add nonetheless stays 1080p.
The rumors are confirmed: NBCU’s chief Linda Yaccarino as the subsequent CEO of Twitter
Musk confirmed Yaccarino’s new position in a tweet this morning (Could 12), a day after he introduced that he had accomplished his seek for a brand new CEO.
Elon Musk tweets that he has discovered a brand new Twitter CEO
“Excited to announce that I’ve a brand new CEO for X/Twitter,” Musk wrote in a tweet on Could 11. “She will likely be beginning in ~6 weeks! My position will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software program & sysops.”
Twitter launched its first model of encrypted DMs
At present, this function is barely out there to verified Blue customers or accounts related to verified organizations. Moreover, the encryption function isn’t appropriate with group messages and Twitter doesn’t provide safety towards man-in-the-middle assaults.
Twitter now means that you can react to DMs with emojis
Twitter has launched a brand new function that lets customers select virtually any emoji to react to a DM in a dialog. Beforehand, the corporate allowed you to react to solely the newest DM with solely a choose set of emojis. CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the brand new function is rolling out with the most recent app replace.
Twitter is purging previous accounts and liberating up desired usernames, in response to Elon Musk
In response to latest tweets by Twitter proprietor Elon Musk, Twitter is purging inactive accounts which have had “no exercise in any respect for a number of years.”
We’re purging accounts which have had no exercise in any respect for a number of years, so you’ll most likely see follower rely drop
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) Could 8, 2023
Twitter is considering a less expensive verification plan for organizations
Twitter is considering an organizational verification plan that doesn’t price $1,000 a month. Over the Cinco de Mayo weekend, Elon Musk mentioned on Twitter that the corporate is engaged on a less expensive plan for small companies, however didn’t give any particulars about the price.
We may have a decrease price tier for small companies, however must handle the onboarding of organizations rigorously to stop fraud.
The $1000/month is supposed for bigger organizations.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) Could 6, 2023
Twitter confirmed Circle tweets have been quickly not non-public
Twitter confirmed a safety error that made Circle tweets floor publicly. TechCrunch reported the glitch in early April, however the platform confirmed the difficulty Could 5 in an electronic mail despatched to Twitter Circle customers.
“In April 2023, a safety incident might have allowed customers outdoors of your Twitter Circle to see tweets that ought to have in any other case been restricted to the Circle to which you have been posting,” the e-mail mentioned. Twitter claims that the bug has now been fastened, and that the crew is aware of what triggered it.
Twitter makes its API free for public announcement accounts
Twitter introduced on Could 2 that it’s making its API free for verified authorities or public-owned companies posting about public utility alerts resembling climate alerts, transportation info and emergency warnings. This comes a month after the corporate introduced its new API pricing tiers.
Twitter is randomly logging out customers
After reporting earlier that Twitter was experiencing a bug that was permitting individuals to edit their bios to briefly regain their Verified checkmarks, the Twitter web site this afternoon has begun to forcefully sign off customers at random. There are a variety of complaints about the issue on Twitter itself, indicating that not less than some are capable of get again in after being booted from the location.
The difficulty seems to be impacting desktop customers right now who’re utilizing Twitter by way of the online. Some declare they’re being logged out repeatedly.
A bug on Twitter causes legacy blue checks to reappear by updating your Twitter bio
It doesn’t appear to matter what textual content you’re including to your bio — TechCrunch reporter Amanda Silberling added just a few areas, then bought her examine again for a second. It even confirmed up with the previous textual content that designates that she is “notable in authorities, information, leisure, or one other designated class,” and he or she didn’t, the truth is, pay for this. However when you refresh the web page it disappears. Actually, it’s unclear whether or not anybody else may even see your examine briefly reappear.
April 2023
EU warns Twitter over disinformation
Twitter was confirmed April 25 as considered one of 19 main tech platforms topic to centralized oversight by the European Union’s govt beginning this fall, when so-called very massive on-line platforms (VLOPs) are anticipated to be compliant with the Digital Companies Act (DSA). However the Fee has not wasted any time warning the Elon Musk-owned social community that issues aren’t trying good for staying on the correct aspect of the incoming legislation.
In a pair of tweets, Vera Jourova, the EU’s values and transparency VP, warned of “one more damaging signal” by Twitter — accusing the platform underneath Musk of “not making digital info house any safer and free from the Kremlin #disinformation & malicious affect”.
Twitter now reveals labels on tweets with decreased visibility
Twitter mentioned that labels will likely be proven to each authors and viewers. Often, these tweets will present textual content resembling “Visibility restricted: this Tweet might violate Twitter’s guidelines towards Hateful Conduct.”
Twitter’s enforcement coverage says that tweets with such labels won’t present up in search outcomes, suggestions or timelines — these tweets will likely be hidden in each the “For You” and “Following timelines. Moreover, there will likely be no advertisements positioned adjoining to posts with decreased visibility.
Twitter restored Blue verification mark for prime accounts, even when they didn’t pay for Twitter Blue
Over the April twenty first weekend, a number of prime accounts (with greater than 1 million followers) bought their verification marks again. Nonetheless, a lot of them, together with author Neil Gaiman, footballer Riyad Mahrez, musician Lil Nas X, actress Janel Parrish Lengthy and British TV presenter Richard Osman mentioned that they didn’t pay for the blue badge.
In March, The New York Occasions reported that Twitter was contemplating handing out a free verification mark to the highest 10,000 manufacturers and firms. It’s not clear if Twitter is making use of the identical coverage to private accounts.
Twitter removes ‘government-funded’ information labels
Twitter has eliminated “government-funded media” labels on all accounts, from NPR to the Chinese language state-affiliated Xinhua Information. Twitter even seems to have deleted its net web page explaining the “government-funded media” labels.
Twitter sends an electronic mail seemingly requiring advertisers to have a verified checkmark
A number of Twitter customers have posted screenshots of an electronic mail reportedly despatched by Twitter, which states that ranging from April 21, verified checkmarks are required to proceed working advertisements on the platform.
WOW… Twitter is now telling advertisers it MUST subscribe to Twitter Blue or Verified Organisations to proceed working advertisements! pic.twitter.com/4DrDu82Zi0
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) April 21, 2023
Twitter formally kills legacy blue checkmarks on 4/20
With the legacy checks gone, Twitter may have verification marks just for paid customers and companies, in addition to authorities entities and officers. Now if a consumer sees a blue examine mark and clicks on it, the label reads: “This account is verified as a result of they’re subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their telephone quantity.”
Microsoft drops Twitter from its promoting platform
Microsoft is dropping Twitter from its promoting platform beginning on April 25, almost two months after Twitter introduced that it’s going to start charging a minimal of $42,000 monthly to customers of its API, together with enterprises and analysis establishments. The strikes imply customers will not be capable of entry their Twitter account, or create, schedule or in any other case handle tweets by Microsoft’s free social media administration service.
Twitter proprietor Elon Musk threatened to take authorized motion:
They skilled illegally utilizing Twitter knowledge. Lawsuit time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2023
Twitter quietly removes coverage towards misgendering trans individuals
Twitter up to date its content material moderation tips concerning hateful content material, eradicating a coverage that prohibited the focused deadnaming or misgendering of transgender individuals. Enacted in 2018, the coverage explicitly said that it violated Twitter’s guidelines to repeatedly and purposefully name a transgender individual by the unsuitable title or pronouns.
Twitter to label tweets that get downranked for violating its hate speech coverage
Twitter plans to “quickly” start including seen labels on tweets which were recognized as probably violating its insurance policies, which has impacted their visibility. It didn’t say when precisely the system can be totally rolled out throughout its community.
Usually, when tweets violate Twitter’s insurance policies, one of many actions the corporate can take is to restrict the attain of these tweets — or one thing it calls “visibility filtering.” In these situations, the tweets stay on-line however change into much less discoverable, as they’re excluded from areas like search outcomes, tendencies, advisable notifications, For You and Following timelines, and extra.
Traditionally, the broader public wouldn’t essentially know if a tweet had been moderated on this means. Now Twitter says that can change.
Twitter introduces 10,000-character-long tweets for Blue subscribers
Twitter’s new function will let Blue subscribers put up 10,000-character-long posts — as if the social community is attempting to compete with a rival e-newsletter platform. Twitter has additionally added help for daring and italic textual content formatting.
Lengthy-form writing can also be not solely new. Final June, the corporate launched a program referred to as Twitter Notes for choose writers. Nonetheless, that program was shut down underneath Musk. After taking on the corporate he additionally killed e-newsletter instrument Revue, a startup Twitter had acquired in 2021.
NPR, PBS and a handful of different information organizations bail on Twitter as Musk meddles with account labels
A PBS spokesperson confirmed to Axios that PBS had “no plans to renew tweeting” after Twitter gave it a murky “government-funded media” label over the weekend. Just a few different information entities appeared to have adopted swimsuit, together with the distinguished Boston NPR affiliate WBUR, Hawaii Public Radio and LA-based native information supply LAist.
The Australian Broadcasting Firm (ABC Australia), Australia’s Particular Broadcasting Service (SBS), New Zealand’s public broadcaster RNZ, Sweden’s SR Ekot and SVT, and Catalonia’s TV3.cat a have been labeled “government-funded media” weeks later.
Twitter companions with eToro to indicate real-time inventory and crypto info
This expands upon the social community’s Cashtag function, which supplied data about a restricted variety of shares and crypto cash by TradingView knowledge.
The brand new partnership with eToro goes past simply displaying info. It additionally redirects customers to the eToro web site the place they’ll interact in buying and selling. If you happen to seek for a inventory on Twitter, you will note a button saying “View on eToro,” which redirects to the location.
🎉Very excited to be launching a brand new $Cashtags partnership with @Twitter which can allow Twitter customers to see real-time costs for a a lot wider vary of shares, crypto & different belongings in addition to having the choice to speculate by eToro. @elonmusk https://t.co/Iv2q9iNxbf
— eToro (@eToro) April 13, 2023
Elon Musk says he solely purchased Twitter as a result of he thought he’d be pressured to
Elon Musk gave a uncommon interview to an precise reporter late on Tuesday, talking to BBC reporter James Clayton on Twitter Areas. In the course of the interview, Clayton pressed Musk on whether or not his buy of Twitter was, in the long run, one thing he went by with willingly, or whether or not it was one thing he did as a result of the lively court docket case on the time during which Twitter was attempting to drive him to undergo with the sale was going badly.
The reply was that Musk did certainly solely do the deal as a result of he believed legally, he was going to be pressured to take action anyway.
Elon Musk says Twitter will formally take away legacy checkmarks on 4/20
That is the “closing date,” he mentioned in a tweet. If the transfer goes by, Twitter may have verification marks just for paid customers and companies, and authorities entities and officers.
Remaining date for eradicating legacy Blue checks is 4/20
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 11, 2023
Twitter, Inc. is now X Corp.
Twitter, Inc. is now referred to as X Corp., in response to a court docket submitting in California.
Since Twitter is not a public firm, it doesn’t must report updates like title adjustments to the SEC. However in any case, the brand new title was noticed in an April 4 doc associated to far-right activist Laura Loomer’s lawsuit towards Twitter and Fb.
“Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and not exists,” the doc states.
Ex-Twitter CEO and different execs sue agency over unpaid authorized payments
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Chancery Courtroom, alleged that Twitter has to pay greater than $1 million to the previous executives for authorized payments they incurred whereas on the firm to reply to requests by the Division of Justice and Securities and Change Fee.
Twitter Circle tweets aren’t that non-public
Quite a few Twitter customers reported a bug on April 10 during which Circle tweets are surfacing on the algorithmically generated For You timeline. That signifies that your supposedly non-public posts would possibly breach containment to achieve an unintended viewers, which might shortly spark some uncomfortable conditions.
TechCrunch has spoken to a number of customers who’ve additionally skilled this glitch firsthand; many extra have reported the glitch of their tweets. Most frequently, it appears that evidently Circle tweets are being surfaced within the For You timeline to customers who comply with the poster, however usually are not of their Circle. Others have reported that their Circle tweets are reaching even additional than those that comply with them.
A 12 months later, Twitter is now resurfacing official Russian accounts in search outcomes
The Elon Musk-owned platform has resumed surfacing accounts of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Embassy in search outcomes. A former Twitter worker informed the publication that this transfer is probably going due to a coverage change.
Twitter received’t allow you to retweet, like or reply to Substack hyperlinks
Twitter is censoring Substack hyperlinks by making the posts unattainable to answer to, like or retweet. Whereas quote-tweeting works, merely urgent the retweet button surfaces an error message: “Some actions on this Tweet have been disabled by Twitter.”
You didn’t hear this from us, however when you hyperlink to a Substack by way of a redirected URL, it appears to put up with out restrictions.
Twitter Blue subscribers will now be proven ‘half advertisements’ on the platform
Twitter is rolling out further options for Blue subscribers together with displaying 50% of advertisements of their timeline in comparison with non-paid customers and a visibility increase in search.
“As you scroll, you will note roughly twice as many natural or non-promoted Tweets positioned in between promoted Tweets or advertisements. There could also be occasions when there are extra or fewer non-promoted Tweets between promoted Tweets,” Twitter’s description of the function says.
Whereas Twitter is claiming to cut back advertisements on paid subscribers’ feeds, it’s arduous to show if they’re really seeing fewer advertisements other than anecdotal experiences.
Twitter singles NPR out with deceptive state-backed media label
NPR’s Twitter account on the platform now comes with a tag denoting it as “US state-affiliated media.” However NPR doesn’t meet Twitter’s personal definition for a state-affiliated account:
State-affiliated media is outlined as retailers the place the state workouts management over editorial content material by monetary sources, direct or oblique political pressures, and/or management over manufacturing and distribution…
State-financed media organizations with editorial independence, just like the BBC within the UK for instance, usually are not outlined as state-affiliated media for the needs of this coverage.
GET REKT @NPR
Properly finished, @elonmusk 🤣 pic.twitter.com/jvX15QWSf5
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 5, 2023
NPR later introduced that it’s going to not be posting content material to its 52 official Twitter feeds, turning into the primary main information group to go silent on the social media platform.
Twitter’s verification adjustments really feel like an unintentional April Fools’ joke
Musk had claimed that beginning on April 1, blue checkmarks that beforehand indicated that an account was professional, verified and notable can be maintained solely for individuals who have a subscription to Twitter Blue. The change can be a part of a wider push for Twitter to gate beforehand free options, and bundle new ones, underneath the $8 monthly Twitter Blue subscription, which prices $11 on iOS and Android gadgets.
As quite a few celebrities and companies spoke out to say they wouldn’t pay the $8 charge, it appeared that eradicating so many blue checks can be simpler mentioned than finished. As a substitute, Twitter merely up to date the textual content accompanying a blue examine to make it unclear whether or not somebody was verified for being notable, or for paying for Twitter Blue. In an final act of pettiness, Twitter eliminated The New York Occasions’ verification examine when the information large mentioned it wouldn’t pay for verification.
Primarily based on early returns, the revamped Twitter Blue has but to contribute considerably to Twitter’s backside line, with simply $11 million generated from cellular signups in its first three months.
March 2023
Twitter pronounces new API tiers; free, fundamental and enterprise ranges
The three API tiers embody a free degree meant for content material posting bots, a $100/month fundamental degree and a expensive enterprise degree. Subscribing to any degree will get entry to the Advertisements API at no further price.
Twitter talked about that over the subsequent 30 days, the corporate will discontinue previous entry ranges, together with Customary (for v1.1), Important and Elevated (for v2), and Premium.
Builders stay sad with Twitter’s new API construction.
Introducing a brand new type of Free (v2) entry for write-only use instances and people testing the Twitter API with 1,500 Tweets/month on the app degree, media add endpoints, and Login with Twitter.
Get began: https://t.co/CqCRD3vbE5
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) March 29, 2023
Elon Musk says Twitter will solely present verified accounts on its “For You” timeline beginning April 15
Musk justified the transfer by saying this was the “solely reasonable strategy to deal with superior AI bot swarms taking on.”
Beginning April fifteenth, solely verified accounts will likely be eligible to be in For You suggestions.
The is the one reasonable strategy to deal with superior AI bot swarms taking on. It’s in any other case a hopeless shedding battle.
Voting in polls would require verification for identical cause.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2023
New Twitter accounts now have to attend solely 30 days to buy Twitter Blue
Twitter decreases the wait to buy Twitter Blue for newly created Twitter accounts from 90 days to 30 days.
“New subscriptions to Twitter Blue can be found globally on net, iOS, or Android. Not all options can be found on all platforms. Newly created Twitter accounts won’t be able to subscribe to Twitter Blue for 30 days. We can also impose ready intervals for brand spanking new accounts sooner or later at our discretion, and with out discover,” the Twitter Blue web page reads.
Twitter to kill ‘legacy’ blue checks on April 1
Twitter introduced that the elimination of legacy blue checkmarks will start April 1 for customers that aren’t subscribed to Twitter Blue.
Elon tweeted again in December that the corporate will take away legacy checkmarks “in just a few months.” After that, customers with legacy blue checks had been seeing a pop-up after they clicked on their checkmark, which learn, “This can be a legacy verified account. It could or might not be notable.” However as soon as Twitter botched this elimination of checkmarks, they modified the copy once more — as of now, customers can not distinguish whether or not somebody has a checkmark as a result of they paid, or as a result of they have been deemed notable.
On April 1st, we’ll start winding down our legacy verified program and eradicating legacy verified checkmarks. To maintain your blue checkmark on Twitter, people can join Twitter Blue right here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOpLp
Organizations can join https://t.co/RlN5BbuGA3…
— Twitter Verified (@verified) March 23, 2023
Twitter’s privacy-preserving Tor service goes darkish
Twitter’s Tor service, a model of the location that might be accessed even in international locations the place the social community is banned, has gone darkish after the corporate didn’t renew its certificates, which expired on March 6.
Pavel Zoneff, director of strategic communications on the Tor Challenge, informed TechCrunch that the location “is not out there seemingly with no plans to resume.”
Twitter Blue is now out there in additional than 20 international locations
This growth makes the social community’s subscription service out there in additional than 35 international locations internationally.
These international locations embody Netherlands, Poland, Eire, Belgium, Sweden, Romania, Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus.
February 2023
Layoffs proceed
Twitter laid off greater than 200 workers in its fourth spherical of cuts, together with loyalist Esther Crawford — the chief govt of Twitter funds who oversaw the corporate’s Twitter Blue verification subscription.
Twitter’s employees is down from about 7,500 workers to lower than 2,000 since Musk.
Plenty of hypothesis amongst ex workers that Musk should be about to put in an entire new regime and that’s why he’s cleansing home. In any other case the cuts don’t make sense. “Exhausting to maintain the lights on with the people who find themselves nonetheless left,” one ex supervisor informed me.
— Alex Heath (@alexeheath) February 26, 2023
One of many quite a few rounds of cuts eradicated the platform’s total accessibility crew. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) referred to as on Elon Musk to carry the accessibility crew again in an open letter. Markey requested a response by March 17.
Twitter permits hashish advertisements in states the place it’s authorized
After updating its advert coverage on February 15, Twitter turned the primary social media app within the U.S. to permit hashish promoting. Hashish advertisements will run on Twitter in U.S. states the place hashish is authorized and in Canada.
Twitter delays launch of its new API platform…once more
The preliminary date set to chop free entry to Twitter’s API was February 9, which was then prolonged to February 13. Now, the social community has delayed the shutdown once more, this time with no date set.
There was an immense quantity of enthusiasm for the upcoming adjustments with Twitter API. As a part of our efforts to create an optimum expertise for the developer group, we will likely be delaying the launch of our new API platform by just a few extra days.
Extra info to comply with…
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) February 13, 2023
The delay jeopardizes the plans of builders and startups constructing instruments across the Twitter API as they wouldn’t have any readability on future spending and funds allocation on the developer platform.
Twitter’s fundamental tier of its API will price $100 monthly
The corporate initially deliberate to close down free entry to its API on February 9. Now it has prolonged this deadline to February 13. Twitter mentioned that it’s going to cost $100 monthly for the fundamental tier of API. This can get builders entry to a “low degree of API utilization,” in addition to the Advertisements API.
Now we have been busy with some updates to the Twitter API so you possibly can proceed to construct and innovate with us.
We’re excited to announce an extension of the present free Twitter API entry by February 13. Right here’s what we’re transport then 🧵
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) February 8, 2023
When builders attempting to hunt readability across the new API guidelines went to the developer discussion board web site, they discovered that the location had been put behind a login. The discussion board was lastly accessible 4 days afterward February 13.
Twitter Blue introduces 4,000-character tweets
Twitter introduced the flexibility to put up longer tweets for paid customers on February 8. As a substitute of being restricted to 280 characters, paying Blue subscribers can put up tweets which can be as much as 4,000 characters.
Whereas solely Twitter Blue subscribers can put up lengthy tweets, all customers will be capable of learn them. You will note solely the primary 280 characters on the timeline, and if you wish to learn extra, you possibly can click on on “Present extra.”
want greater than 280 characters to specific your self?
we all know that numerous you do… and whereas we love a great thread, generally you simply wish to Tweet every little thing all of sudden. we get that.
so we’re introducing longer Tweets! you’re gonna wish to examine this out. faucet this 👉…
— Twitter Blue (@TwitterBlue) February 8, 2023
Elon Musk claims Twitter will begin sharing advert income with creators
Elon Musk introduced in a tweet on February 3 that the corporate would quickly start sharing promoting income with creators on the platform for the primary time. He follows up the announcement with a catch: Eligible customers should be signed up for Twitter Blue.
Payouts have but to attain creators’ wallets.
Extra monetization pushes: Twitter Blue expands new international locations, brings again Areas curation
Twitter Blue subscriptions are actually out there in Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain, making it 12 areas in complete to which customers can subscribe to it as of February 2. On February 8, Twitter Blue prolonged companies additional to India, Indonesia and Brazil.
Twitter additionally introduced launching a brand new Areas tab with curated stations for stay and recorded areas, together with podcasts. The social community is making podcasts out there solely to Blue subscribers and “some individuals on Twitter for iOS and Twitter for Android apps.”
Twitter to finish free entry to its API
Twitter will discontinue providing free entry to the Twitter API beginning February 9 and can launch a paid model, Twitter mentioned because it appears to be like for extra avenues to monetize the platform.
Beginning February 9, we’ll not help free entry to the Twitter API, each v2 and v1.1. A paid fundamental tier will likely be out there as a substitute 🧵
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) February 2, 2023
Per week later and days earlier than the February 9 deadline, Elon Musk mentioned that after getting suggestions from builders, Twitter will present a write-only API for “bots offering good content material that’s free.”
Twitter discontinues CoTweets
Twitter introduced February 1 that it’s discontinuing CoTweeting, a function that allowed two customers to co-author a tweet. Customers will be capable of view the set of co-tweets for a month. After that, they are going to be mechanically transformed to retweets on the co-author’s profile.
January 2023
Twitter companions with DoubleVerify and IAS on model security initiative
As a result of declining advert income and advertiser exits, Twitter introduced on January 25 that it has teamed up with adtech firms DoubleVerify and Integral Advert Science (IAS) to inform advertisers if their advert is positioned round inappropriate content material. This system, out there first for U.S.-based promoting campaigns, permits manufacturers to research the content material adjoining to — primarily tweets above and beneath the advert — all kinds of advertisements, together with promoted tweets.
Twitter rolls out its bookmark function on iOS
The brand new design shows the bookmark button underneath the expanded tweet view, making it simpler so as to add a put up to your bookmarks.
Earlier than the change, you needed to faucet on the share button to open the sharing card after which faucet on the bookmark choice to avoid wasting a tweet. Along with the brand new button, as quickly as you faucet on the button, you will note a banner on the prime of the display screen that claims “Present all bookmarks.”
The choice is at present seen solely on the iOS app, however we are able to anticipate that Twitter will roll this out to Android and the online quickly.
Picture Credit: Twitter
Twitter quietly bans third-party shoppers
After chopping off distinguished app makers like Tweetbot and Twitterific, Twitter quietly up to date its developer phrases to ban third-party shoppers altogether on January 19.
The “restrictions” part of Twitter’s developer settlement was up to date with a clause prohibiting “use or entry the Licensed Supplies to create or try to create a substitute or related service or product to the Twitter Functions.” Earlier within the week, Twitter mentioned that it was “implementing long-standing API guidelines” in disallowing shoppers entry to its platform however didn’t cite which particular guidelines builders have been violating.
In consequence, third-party Twitter shoppers started offloading their apps from App Shops.
Twitter now gives an annual Blue subscription
Customers now have an opportunity to get a reduction for $84/12 months in the event that they buy an annual Blue subscription on the net.
Twitter Blue, together with the brand new annual plan, is at present out there within the U.S., the U.Ok., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Picture Credit: Twitter
Twitter HQ furnishings auctions
In a wierd try to earn money, Twitter is auctioning off surplus workplace furnishings (public sale is now closed) that it doesn’t want anymore, now that hundreds of workers have both left the corporate or been laid off. If you’re quickly shedding advertisers and apparently not paying your hire, why not go for the hail mary?
Twitter makes algorithmic “For You” timeline the default
The corporate has tried to tug this stunt beforehand, solely to present the choice to change again to a chronological timeline after a whole lot of backlashes.
What’s completely different this time? The Elon Musk-led firm is now displaying each algorithmic and chronological feeds side-by-side. Customers can change between them by swiping on their telephone screens. Till now, customers needed to faucet on the glint icon within the top-right nook to change between the “Dwelling” and “Newest” timelines. Twitter is justifying its newest change by saying that customers can now simply swipe between the renamed “For You” and “Following” timelines.
- January 13: Twitter rolled out the dual-timeline replace to the online however at the moment the social community used to recollect your selection.
- January 20: The corporate made the “For You” feed default on the net when customers first opened Twitter in a tab or refreshed the web page.
- January 24: Now, Twitter remembers your decisions once more.
- February 7: Twitter remembers your decisions once more on iOS and Android, too.
Now you can simply change between “For you” and “Following” on net. Android coming quickly 👀
— Twitter Help (@TwitterSupport) January 13, 2023
Twitter’s superior search filters for cellular are mentioned to be coming quickly
In response to social media analyst Matt Navarra, Twitter’s superior search filters for cellular are coming quickly.
Right here’s what it appears to be like like:
NEW! Twitter Superior Search function on iOS is coming quickly 👀👇 https://t.co/ae56yE3JTU pic.twitter.com/xbQUpQJAlS
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) January 4, 2023
Twitter lifts the political advert ban to bolster income
The corporate initially enforced the ban again in 2019. At the moment, it mentioned that “political message attain needs to be earned, not purchased.” Twitter charted a distinct path from different social networks like Fb and Instagram, which allowed political advertisements.
Twitter’s announcement to carry the political advert ban comes at a time when advertisers have been pulling again spending on the platform, and the corporate has been chopping down its inner income projections.
December 2022
Twitter Blue customers can now add 60-minute movies
On December 23, Twitter up to date the Twitter Blue web page declaring that subscribers can now add 60-minute movies from the online at 1080p decision and 2GB in file measurement.
Twitter layoffs proceed, impacting workers in public coverage, engineering
In response to posts on Twitter and LinkedIn from a former public coverage worker on December 22, Twitter reduce half of its public coverage crew.
Twitter additionally laid off some engineers in infrastructure by way of electronic mail on December 16. Throughout all of Twitter, it’s estimated that about 75% of workers have both chosen to depart or have been laid off since Elon Musk took possession of the corporate in October.
Twitter now shows inventory and cryptocurrency costs straight in search outcomes
To entry the brand new function, customers have to simply sort the greenback image adopted by the related ticker image, e.g. “$GOOG” or “$ETH” (minus the quote marks), within the search bar and Twitter will show the present worth. This additionally works with out utilizing the $ image in some cases, however it’s much less constant and doesn’t at all times return the inventory or crypto costs as requested.
If somebody desires to know extra particulars a couple of inventory or cryptocurrency, they’ll hit the “View on Robinhood” button.
$Cashtags, now with knowledge 📈
👀 $SPY 👇 pic.twitter.com/XgOK6gf02E
— Twitter Enterprise (@TwitterBusiness) December 21, 2022
Twitter now reveals how many individuals view your tweets
A tweet’s View Depend will likely be seen to everybody, not simply the proprietor of the account.
“Twitter is rolling out View Depend, so you possibly can see what number of occasions a tweet has been seen! That is regular for video,” Elon Musk wrote in a tweet. “Reveals how far more alive Twitter is than it could appear, as over 90% of Twitter customers learn, however don’t tweet, reply or like, as these are public actions.”
Twitter Blue for Enterprise now permits firms to determine their workers
Twitter’s product supervisor Esther Crawford mentioned the social media platform is launching a pilot program for Blue for Enterprise with choose companies. The corporate plans to develop this to extra organizations subsequent 12 months.
We’re launching the pilot of Blue for Enterprise so starting at the moment you’ll begin seeing firm badges on choose profiles. We’ll quickly be increasing this system and sit up for having extra companies added within the new 12 months! https://t.co/ytnMRO5rcE
— Esther Crawford ✨ (@esthercrawford) December 19, 2022
Twitter goes on an account suspension spree, together with distinguished journalists
A day after Twitter crafted a brand new coverage to elucidate its resolution to ban an account that tracks Elon Musk’s non-public jet, Twitter additionally suspended its open supply competitor Mastodon from the service.
Throughout the identical day, Twitter suspended plenty of distinguished journalists on the platform with out warning. “Identical doxxing guidelines apply to ‘journalists’ as to everybody else,” Elon Musk tweeted in a reply concerning the journalists’ suspensions.
Twitter seemingly had a glitch that allowed banned customers to nonetheless take part in Twitter Areas. A bunch of the banned journalists began a bunch dialog on Areas the place Musk himself joined in. Shortly after, Twitter pulled its Areas group audio function quickly.
Twitter shuts down Revue, its e-newsletter platform
Revue, the e-newsletter platform acquired by Twitter in January 2021, despatched a message to e-newsletter writers on December 14 declaring, “We’ve made the tough resolution to close down Revue.” Writers had till January 18, 2023 to retrieve their knowledge at the start was deleted.
Twitter disperses the Belief & Security Council
Twitter dispersed the advisory group consisting of roughly 100 impartial researchers and human rights activists from around the globe. The council members obtained an electronic mail on Monday, December 12 from Twitter saying that the Belief & Security Council is “not one of the best construction” to get exterior insights into the corporate product and coverage technique.
Elon Musk says Twitter will take away all legacy verifications ‘in just a few months’
Twitter will take away all legacy blue checkmarks “in just a few months,” Elon Musk tweeted on December 12. Earlier than Musk purchased Twitter, checkmarks have been used to confirm people and entities as lively, genuine and notable accounts of curiosity.
This previous week, many blue checkmark holders have been seeing a pop-up after they click on on their blue checkmark that reads, “This can be a legacy verified account. It could or might not be notable.”
Twitter Blue relaunches with new verification course of, plus Blue for Enterprise
Twitter is formally bringing again the Twitter Blue subscription on December 12, beginning in 5 international locations earlier than quickly increasing to others. Twitter up to date its phrases to specify that customers might want to confirm their telephone numbers earlier than buying the Twitter Blue subscription.
Net sign-ups will price $8 monthly and iOS signal ups will price $11 monthly for “entry to subscriber-only options, together with the blue checkmark,” per a tweet from the corporate account. Twitter Blue turned out there on Android on the identical worth as iOS in January 2023.
Along with the relaunch of Twitter Blue, the corporate additionally started rolling out a new providing referred to as Blue for Enterprise that provides a gold checkmark to firm accounts.
Twitter rolls out its Neighborhood Notes function globally
Twitter introduced Neighborhood Notes, beforehand referred to as Birdwatch, are actually seen around the globe. Neighborhood Notes is the social media large’s crowdsourced fact-checking system.
Moderators who’re a part of this system can add notes to tweets so as to add context and customers can then vote in the event that they decide the context to be useful. Previous to this international growth, Neighborhood Notes have been solely seen to customers within the U.S. Twitter added moderators from the U.Ok., Eire, Australia and New Zealand in January 2023.
Twitter pronounces charging $11 on iOS for Blue subscription to offset App Retailer charges
When Twitter launched its new subscription plan with a verification mark on November 9, it charged customers $7.99 monthly. In an try to offset App Retailer charges, Twitter is charging iOS customers $11 for the brand new subscription plan — although the Twitter Blue plan is on halt.
November 2022
Twitter’s Neighborhood Notes up to date to raised deal with ‘low high quality’ contributions
The platform’s crowdsourced fact-checking system, Neighborhood Notes, are notes written by Twitter customers which can be appended to tweets to offer additional clarification and context.
The Neighborhood Notes algorithm change includes scoring notes the place contributors clarify why a tweet shouldn’t be deemed deceptive.
Twitter pronounces a brand new multicolored verification system
Elon Musk pronounces that Twitter will tentatively roll out a brand new multicolored verification system the place firms will get a gold checkmark, authorities officers will get a gray checkmark and the blue checkmark will likely be devoted to people even when they don’t seem to be celebrities. Meaning the blue checkmark will likely be used with legacy verified accounts and folk who purchase Twitter’s proposed $8 monthly paid plan.
If you happen to’re confused about all of the checkmarks, you’re not alone. Right here’s a fast information on what every checkmark and badge means on Twitter.
Twitter Blue verification chaos ensues
On November 9, Twitter CEO Elon Musk floated adjustments to Twitter’s system for verifying consumer accounts, together with charging $8 monthly for it. The social media firm seemingly started rolling out a brand new tier of Twitter Blue, its premium subscription service. In response to a tweet by Esther Crawford, a former product lead at Twitter, the brand new Twitter Blue plan wasn’t but stay, however some customers noticed notifications as a part of a stay check.
The brand new Blue isn’t stay but — the dash to our launch continues however some of us may even see us making updates as a result of we’re testing and pushing adjustments in real-time. The Twitter crew is famous. 🫡 New Blue… coming quickly! https://t.co/ewTSTjx3t7
— Esther Crawford ✨ (@esthercrawford) November 5, 2022
Twitter additionally launched grey-colored official checkmarks for notable accounts resembling firms and politicians. However inside hours of the launch, Elon Musk killed it. Crawford clarified that the gray “Official” labels are nonetheless going out as a part of the brand new Twitter Blue product.
The brand new $8 Twitter Blue plan started rolling out to iOS customers within the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.Ok with the one function out there on the time being the blue “verified” checkmark. This triggered a variety of pretend accounts pretending to be celebrities, manufacturers and in any other case influential individuals to create accounts and unfold misinformation.
The Twitter exodus begins with mass layoffs and exits
Elon Musk laid off 3,700 individuals from Twitter on November 3, virtually half its employees, shortly after finishing the acquisition. Twitter was sued in a category motion lawsuit in response to not giving workers advance discover of a mass layoff, alleging Twitter violated employee safety legal guidelines.
Per week later, Twitter reached out to some former workers to return as they have been laid off “by mistake.”
Along with layoffs, a spherical of govt departures additionally swept by the corporate. In Musk’s first electronic mail to his new employees, he talked about ending distant work and making the battle towards spam a precedence.
October 2022
Elon Musk is revamping Twitter’s verification system
Twitter begins overhauling a brand new and costlier model of Twitter Blue, the platform’s paid plan, that can reportedly price $19.99 monthly and provides customers a verified badge. On the time, Twitter Blue price $4.99 monthly within the U.S.
In response to a report from The Verge, Twitter plans to take away verification badges from present holders in the event that they don’t pay for Twitter Blue inside 90 days of launching the brand new verification system.
Elon Musk formally owns Twitter
Elon Musk closed on his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter on October 27, 2022. The deal got here after months of authorized drama, unhealthy memes and will-they-or-won’t-they-chaos. After sealing the deal, Musk took Twitter non-public and commenced clearing home. On day one, he fired former CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, normal counsel Sean Edgett and head of Authorized, Belief and Security Vijaya Gadde.
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