The limit on the number of characters in a post is part of Twitter’s DNA. At the origin of this limit, there is a technical constraint. Indeed, when the platform was launched, most users used it through SMS.
And because the number of characters you can use on a text message is limited, Twitter was forced to impose limits on tweets. And although Twitter users today use the platform via the internet, the company has retained this culture.
Twitter wants to give authors a better way to express themselves, thanks to newsletters
However, today Twitter is interested in long format posts. This week, the company announced the acquisition of the Revue company. Specializing in newsletters, the latter allows authors to create newsletters and even generate income from their publications.
When announcing the company’s takeover, Twitter indicated that it would continue to invest in the service. However, the company has also signaled that it plans to integrate Revue as well as its long-form publications on the microblogging platform.
And obviously, Twitter is in a hurry. Indeed, less than a week after the announcement of the takeover of Revue, a leak already reveals how this integration of newsletters on Twitter could be done.
An integration of Revue in Twitter is already under development
In a series of tweets, Jane Manchum Wong, a specialist in reverse engineering, indicates that Twitter is already developing a way to promote Revue newsletters on the web version of its social network.
Twitter is working to include the “???? Newsletters” item in the menu in the web app, which shows the popup about @revue above pic.twitter.com/ATaXDGr0zc
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) January 27, 2021
According to the expert’s screenshots, Twitter could include a new “Newsletters” tab in the web application menu, next to Bookmarks, Lists, Times and Topics. On the current prototype, when clicking on “Newsletters” in this menu, Twitter would display a pop-up window promoting the Revue service. A priori, the long formats of newsletters could therefore coexist on Twitter with traditional publications which are limited to 280 characters.
For the moment, this information should still be considered with caution. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Jane Manchun Wong is a source who enjoys good credibility with the tech media. Indeed, it has already discovered many features of online services (including Facebook, Instagram, etc.) before the official presentation.
Revue will continue to exist as an independent service, but Twitter has already discussed this integration.
Regarding the integration of Revue into Twitter, here is what the company said in the announcement of the acquisition: “We will continue to invest in Revue as a stand-alone service, and its team will remain focused on improving the way editors create their newsletters, build their audiences and get paid for their work. We are also expanding their team and recruiting for key roles in engineering, design, research and data science. Over time, this team will build more long-content-centric discovery, reading, and conversation experiences on Twitter. “
It should be noted that currently, Twitter continues to transform. Recently, for example, the company launched an equivalent of Snapchat and Instagram Stories on its social network. Twitter is also working on a kind of audio social network. And currently, the company is funding Project Bluesky: a decentralized social network project (much like Mastodon) for which the Twitter app could become a client.
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