I’ve been on social media for a long time but still haven’t figured out the precise reason for the ‘Stories’ feature on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and so on. Twitter is also exploring this option. As a micro-blogging platform, surely it should be brevity and not stories characterise the basic functioning of Twitter? Well, the decision-makers at Twitter decided otherwise and decided to try out something called Fleets.
Stories stay around just for a day; they are fleeting. So Twitter launched Fleets based on user feedback to create new features. Right now, this feature is being tested out in Brazil only.
No retweets, likes or public replies – it’s for ‘fleeting’ thoughts.
People have not welcomed the Instagram-like feature which they feel will promote hit-and-run types of posts.
In fact, a lot of people thought of this. The Urban dictionary defines ‘fleeting’ as the act of “cleansing your colon by way of using Fleet enemas”.
A lot of the tweeple were like, don’t ruin Twitter please.
It seems that there are more people against the feature than for it.
We didn’t ask for it, said the Tweeple, so why are you giving it to us!
Don’t want it!
Tweeple have been asking for an edit button for their tweets for ages.
Twitter isn't ready to oblige with that, however.
Why give us this when we want something entirely different – and more functional?
Social media managers for companies and brands have enough to do ---- without the added burden of keeping Twitter stories current.
It is all too much to keep track of. It’s all going to get confusing.
Why do all the social media platforms try to be all things to all people?
Retain your individuality.
Some of us don’t see the point in stories and we don’t see people’s stories either. Now there are simply going to be more stories not to see.
Many of the more serious tweeple feel that this is a frivolous feature that ruins Twitter; they will now be moving to LinkedIn.
There has been such a pushback against Twitter Stories or Fleets as they cutely call it, that Twitter is likely to get the message sooner rather than later.
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