Twitter users got some surprising news on Tuesday when the company revealed they were testing out an increased character limit.
Tweets have always been capped at 140 characters, but developers are now rolling out 280-character limits for a select test group. If it’s a success, the higher limit is expected to be available to all users.
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The application showed off two tweets in the new character limit through its official account and the account of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
“This is a small change, but a big move for us,” Dorsey wrote. “140 was an arbitrary choice based on the 160 character SMS limit. Proud of how thoughtful the team has been in solving a real problem people have when trying to tweet. And at the same time maintaining our brevity, speed, and essence!”
Can’t fit your Tweet into 140 characters? 🤔
We’re trying something new with a small group, and increasing the character limit to 280! Excited about the possibilities? Read our blog to find out how it all adds up. 👇https://t.co/C6hjsB9nbL
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 26, 2017
This is a small change, but a big move for us. 140 was an arbitrary choice based on the 160 character SMS limit. Proud of how thoughtful the team has been in solving a real problem people have when trying to tweet. And at the same time maintaining our brevity, speed, and essence! https://t.co/TuHj51MsTu
— jack (@jack) September 26, 2017
Twitter Product Manager Aliza Rosen also told users that one of the main reasons for the change was the limitations of certain languages. The Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages don’t have issues with “cramming” tweets, and can express fuller thoughts on the platform.
The upped character limit, which will be tested in all languages except the three above, is an attempt to giving other language-speakers the same freedom.
Users’ reactions were mixed to the announcement, with some seeing no problem with the 140-character limit and others elated at the added space.
See some of the reactions below.
NO!!!!!! The beauty of @Twitter is fitting sense (and nonsense) into that character space. Don’t mess up the core beauty of the app 😩😩😩😩
— Denzel Mwiyeretsi (@DenzelUG) September 26, 2017
Naah, the struggle of keeping a message within the 140 character limit is the one true first world problem we all want to keep around.
— Nick Sakellariou (@nicksak) September 26, 2017
WooW pic.twitter.com/b9eOV3xFWL
— Abdullah Alansari෴ (@AL5wa6rr) September 26, 2017
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