Since it launched in 2006, Twitter has been known for allowing users to express their every desire and thought using just 140 characters. That’s could be about to change, as the social media company is reportedly working on a new product that exceeds the current word limit.
Re/Code, citing sources familiar with the matter, reports that the company is building a product that would allow users to Tweet long-form content on the site.
According to the sources, the idea of expanding the character limit for Tweets was recently revisited under interim CEO Jack Dorsey as a way to increase the number of users on the service.
While Re/Code points out that third-party services already allow users to exceed the character limit, those products don’t post as actual text but as images.
The company is reportedly also looking at tweaking how Tweets are measured within the 140-character limit.
Under the scenarios being discussed, Re/Code reports that links and user handles may not be included in the character count.
The company previously deviated from its long-held message limits in July, when it began allowing users to send private messages in excess of the 140-character limit.
At the time, the company said the change would have no impact on the public side of Twitter, but it looks like that might not be the case.
A spokesperson for Twitter declined to comment on the product.
Twitter Plans to Go Beyond Its 140-Character Limit [Re/Code]
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist