Twitter gives up and copies to Instagram: it incorporates the "stories", they are called "fleets" and unleashes the anger of many users

03/05/2020 - 12:24

• Clarín.com
• Technology

Twitter surrendered to the trend installed by Instagram of the stories: the application launched a test phase of its fleets on Wednesday, messages that disappear after 24 hours and cannot be shared or received "likes" . It is a format traced to the stories of the most popular application of the moment, which in turn was “stolen” from Snapchat, a pioneer in this genre.

"We hope that the 'fleets' help people share their fleeting thoughts [fleeting, in English] that perhaps they would not have tweeted," said Kayvon Beykpour, product director of the group, on the social network.

"It is a substantial change, so we are very happy to try it , see how our customers use it and learn from it," he added, specifying that the implementation began on Wednesday only in Brazil.

He admitted that this format was very similar to " stories ", the short stories with photos or videos that remain visible for only 24 hours.

However, many users complained. They even created the #RIPTwitter trend, to point out that after doubling the number of characters from 140 to 280, now the social network begins to lose its identity more and more.

The "stories" format was then replicated by almost all the most popular services, from Facebook to WhatsApp through YouTube .

Twitter fleets: a format already known. (Twitter)

A Snapchat idea “stolen” by Instagram

The first network to propose them was Snapchat in 2013, and then followed by different platforms such as Facebook , Instagram , WhatsApp (all belonging to the Mark Zuckerberg group) and, more recently, LinkedIn ( Microsoft ).

In fact, the goal of Instagram was to unseat Snapchat with that format. And he achieve it.

"People often tell us that they don't feel comfortable because anyone can react in public to their tweets or because there is this aspect of permanence and performance (" how many 'likes' and 'retuits' will I get?), "Said Beykpour, who is also co-founder of Periscope, a live video application purchased by Twitter in 2015.

The "fleets" will be visible by clicking on the avatar, and users can only react to them by private message, the same mechanism that works on the other networks.

Twitter, a social network that seeks to explore alternatives to its identity. (AFP)

Except, of course, if you take a screenshot of the "fleet", in which case it can be shared on Twitter , as well as on any other platform.

Twitter acquired in February Chroma Labs, a story creation application founded by John Barnett, who had created the " Boomerang " (loop videos) for Instagram .

Nonconforming Users

The reaction of many Twitter users to this format was, initially, negative, and condensed under the idea #RIPTwitter.

They are not called "Stories" they are called "Fleets" and the trial period is Brazil and according to the reaction of Brazilians goes to globalization. So let's go tell those people to reject this new function.

RIP TWITTER pic.twitter.com/xup1usZv5t

I got to twitter when only 140 characters were used that later rose to 280, the stars ⭐ became fucking ❤️. And now the "Stories / Fleets" whores come, all that is missing is to see commercials on all sides. # RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/WujykVkcYv

I wanted to be able to edit tweets in case I send a crap or write badly, but no, they will play stories lpm

#RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/JqNhPCzExe

Twitter evolution #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/U5SnbQqVKn

#RIPTwitter
Improve the quality of videos❌
Be able to edit tweets❌
Stories✅ pic.twitter.com/QybBYI8asj

All twitter to learn that they will add stories #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/KzrtlwKy38

If I wanted to see miserable stories I go to IG / FB, fuck your mother tweet #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/h7OEOweLaT