Twitter may fundamentally change how retweets and mentions ...

“Retweet with comment for instance might encourage more consideration before spread.” The other feature Davis mentions that's especially ... Skiptomaincontent clock menu more-arrow no yes Tech Video Amazon Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Samsung Tesla AI Cars Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters AllTech Reviews Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones Accessories BuyingGuides How-tos Deals MorefromVergeReviews Science Video Space NASA SpaceX Health Energy Environment AllScience Creators YouTube Instagram Adobe Kickstarter Tumblr ArtClub Cameras Photography What’sinyourbag? AllCreators Entertainment Film TV Games Fortnite GameofThrones Books Comics Music AllEntertainment Video Features Podcasts Newsletters Store ✕ Filedunder: Apps Mobile Tech Twittermayfundamentallychangehowretweetsandmentionswork New, 12 comments MakingTwittermorepleasantthroughanti-harassmentfeatures By NickStatt@nickstatt Nov5,2019,3:21pmEST Sharethisstory SharethisonFacebook SharethisonTwitter Share Allsharingoptions Share Allsharingoptionsfor: Twittermayfundamentallychangehowretweetsandmentionswork Linkedin Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email IllustrationbyAlexCastro/TheVerge Twitterleadershiphasmadeitagoalofthelastfewyearstobemoretransparentaboutitsdecision-makingandtoprovidemoredetailedroadmapsforwhennewfeaturesandotherbigchangescometotheplatform.JustlookatCEOJackDorsey’sratherepicmulti-tweetFacebooktakedownwhenheannouncedtheplatform’spoliticaladbanlastweek. Inthatspirit,DantleyDavis,Twitter’svicepresidentofdesignandresearch,yesterdayeveningreleasedalistoffeatureshesayshe’sexcitedto“explore”in2020.TheyincludesomefundamentalchangestohowTwitterfunctions,inparticularhowtheretweetworksandhowfreelyusersareabletopullothersintotheirconversationswithorwithouttheirpermission. WhileDavissayshe’s“lookingforwardto”thesefeaturescomingin2020,he’snotofficiallyannouncinganyofthem—infact,TwittertellsTheVergethey’rejust“ideaswe’reexploring”andsuggeststheymaynotcometopassatall: “Thefeaturesmentionedareideaswe’reexploring–explorationsandexperimentationhavealwaysbeenpartofourprocess.We’llhavemoretoshareshouldwedecidetomoveforwardwithanyofthem,”aspokespersonwrites,echoingafollow-uptweetfromDaviswherehereferredtothemas“ideashe’sexcitedtoexplore.” FeaturesthatI’mlookingforwardtoin2020.-Removemefromthisconversation-Don’tallowRTofthistweet-Don’tallowpeopleto@mentionmewithoutmypermission-Removethis@mentionfromthisconversation-Tweetthisonlyto:hashtag,interest,orthesefriends—Dantley(@dantley)November5,2019 Twooftheseideasstandout,though.Thefirstistheabilitytodisablearetweetonyourtweet.ThatcouldhelppreventitsspreadthroughoutthebroaderTwitternetwork,intheeventyou’reconcernedmaliciouspeopleorotherbadactorswanttosignalboostitasawaytodirectnegativeattentionyourway.Inotherwords,it’sananti-harassmentfeature. Shortofmakingyouraccountprivate,whichmaynotbeinyourbestinterestifyou’reapublic-facingindividual(likeajournalistorartist)orabonafidepublicfigure,thismaybeausefultoolinhelpingblunttheviralspreadofatweetyoufeelisbeingmisinterpretedorwieldedagainstyouforreasonsunrelatedtotheactualcontentofthemessage.Thisofcoursewouldnotstoppeoplefromgoingtoyourprofileandlookingatthetweetthere.Butitdoesseemlikeagenuinelysmartapproachtopromotinghealthierconversationsandreducingtoxicity. Twitterisexperimentingwithreducingthenegativeeffectsoftheretweetbutton Thecreatoroftheretweetbutton,softwaredeveloperChrisWetherell,toldBuzzFeedNewsinaninterviewthispastsummerthatthefeature,developedbackin2009,wasakintohanding“a4-year-oldaloadedweapon.”HesaysTwitterdidnotthinkthroughtheimplicationsofcreatingabuttonthatcouldboostthereachofanypostregardlessofcontext,andthattheretweetbuttonmayhavemadetheplatformworseoffoverall. DorseyeventoldBuzzFeedheunderstandsthesentiment.“Definitelythinkingabouttheincentivesandramificationsofallactions,includingretweet,”hesaidatthetime.“Retweetwithcommentforinstancemightencouragemoreconsiderationbeforespread.” TheotherfeatureDavismentionsthat’sespeciallynoteworthyistheabilitytopreventotherusersfrommentioningyouwithoutyourpermission.ThatcouldalsofundamentallychangehowTwitterfunctions,ifsuddenlyyouwerenolongerallowedtotagpeopleinthreadsordunktweetswithoutgettingtheirexpressapprovalbeforehand.Again,thislooksalotlikeananti-harassmentfeature. CalloutcultureisstillafoundationalelementofthediscourseonTwitter,andpubliclymentioningauserinatweetcriticizingthemallowsthepeoplewhoviewthetweettomoreeasilyfollowsuit.Itprovidesthemalinktoyourprofile,anditensuresthateveryreplytheymakealsoshowsupinyourmentions(dependingonyoursettings). ThatcanresultinahugefloodofnegativementionsthatmakeTwittereffectivelyunusableand,often,amiserableandunyieldingsourceofonlinevitriol.AlthoughTwitterhasbetterfilteringandmoderationtoolsbuiltinthesedaystohelpreducethevisibilityofnegativetweets,it’sstillnotgreattofaceabarrageofharassmentinyourmentionstab.Beingabletocutthatprocessoffentirelywouldbeafascinatingexperimentinpersonalmoderationthatcouldhaveprofoundplatform-leveleffectsonhowpeoplecommunicateonTwitter. Thatsaid,thesearen’tofficialfeatures,justTwitter’sproductgurusbeingmoreoutspokenaboutin-progressorjustplainexperimentalideas,astheyhavebeenknowntodorecently.DavissaysTwitterissolicitingfeedbackfromthecommunityonwhatitshouldprioritizeandwaystosafelyimplementcertainfeatureswithoutmessingupotherpartsoftheproductthatdoworkwelltoday. ThanksforthefeedbackanddiscussionontheideasthatI’mexcitedtoexploreinthefuture.OurgoaliscontinuetoimprovethepublicconversationonTwitterandgettingfeedbackfromthecommunityonourideasishelpfulasweprioritizeourwork.https://t.co/LFb1HHZcN2—Dantley(@dantley)November5,2019 Update,7:56PMET:WithconfirmationfromTwitterthatthesearemerelyideasthatarebeingexploredwithinthecompany. NextUpIn Tech Signupforthe newsletter VergeDeals SubscribetogetthebestVerge-approvedtechdealsoftheweek. Justonemorething! PleaseconfirmyoursubscriptiontoVergeDealsviatheverificationemailwejustsentyou. Email(required) Bysigningup,youagreetoourPrivacyNoticeandEuropeanusersagreetothedatatransferpolicy. Subscribe Loadingcomments... Sharethisstory Twitter Facebook