While I totally agree that some standards need to be implemented, I don't agree with the way Twitter is making the changes. Twitter is all about conversation. If the retweet overhaul gets launched as you've described, a major component of that conversation will be lost. The ability to add commentary is one of the integral parts of retweeting; it will be a shame to lose that aspect of it.
Jeanie Straub
· 2 months ago
YOU GO! NAILED IT.
Ben Parr
· 2 months ago
I hope they will add commenting in future iterations of the new retweet system.
startabuzz
· 2 months ago
Just reading Pete's rebuttal ... and I agree 100%. And I hope you're right, Ben. Thanks for the information; I think that Twitter is making a step in the right direction, but they should take into account the things that make something like retweeting so great.
dainathomas
· 2 months ago
Hope so ..
Best, Daina
John
· 2 months ago
Without the ability to comment, I, as a twitter client developer, and a very popular one at that, do not plan on deviating from the existing RT @username mechanism / syntax, as the new system, without the ability to comment, is a large step back, IMHO.
Sheamus
· 2 months ago
I think unless Twitter flat-out bans existing RTs (and vias, my preference) then the inability to adjust what you are being retweeted will mean a lot of power-users folk ignore this. And as power-users tend to be a big part in what becomes the norm, it might backfire completely.
Yes, I think the RT system is a mess and Twitter needs to adopt it, but this isn't the way forward. And it's going to get very irritating seeing the exact same message again and again in streams.
My prediction: because this system will overlay with lots of other people using the existing methods, RTs are going to be even *more* of a mess. I really can't see why they couldn't do what they're doing now, but let you edit the prose. If they made it so you couldn't change the URL, but the text around it could be edited, everything would be fine and dandy.
Of course, it's not always just links we're retweeting, but that's the only part that I think Twitter (and related businesses) have any real interest in tracking. And we've not even begun to look at the implications for external Twitter clients, all of which use the old-style method.
Ben Parr
· 2 months ago
I think you'll see people slowly adopt it as a feature. Maybe half will at the start, then more and more as the syntax works. ANd remember, only a small minority of user retweet (Well under 10%), so you'll see a new wave of retweeting.
Messy at first? Yeah. But once they iterate and get it right people will adopt.
davidtrounce
· 2 months ago
Agree with you there Sheamus. The system is so messy in fact that i struggle to see how business can make any real use of it in terms of clear communication. Most of what appears in my twitter is unintelligible.
Danny Brown
· 2 months ago
Instead of messing with systems that can (and do) work, why doesn't Twitter offer clearer FAQ's and user instructions instead? They've always been poor at this - how about they make new users comfortable with the basic platform and then explain how user-generated features can be used as well?
Sheamus
· 2 months ago
I agree Danny, but remember this is the company that still asks users, "What are you doing?" and then wonders why 40% of tweets are ranked as 'pointless babble'.
How difficult would it be to send out a short, but useful FAQ email each time somebody signed up? Here's how you retweet, check your mentions/replies, what the @spam account does, etc etc.
Danny Brown
· 2 months ago
That's a good idea - have an off-site landing page that you get the URL to via a welcome email or tweet. 'Course, that would be too much like common sense to actually work... ;-)
Keith
· 2 months ago
I disagree with you.
RT's are good at the moment because they can be personal for that person. Most of my RT's I add a comment at the end of it, but once 'Project retweet' arrives, it'll just ruin the whole experience.
Twitter needs to remember that it's the public who use it, and a step forward for them could be a huge step back for the majority of users.
richrecruiter
· 2 months ago
My understanding was you will also have the option of turning retweets OFF. I think that's a great feature.
Jeanie Straub
· 2 months ago
OK, well, see that's cool. But why RT if you're not adding value?
lankyguy
· 2 months ago
Sometimes you RT to pass on a story to make sure more people see it. Comments aren't always necessary.
Jeanie Straub
· 2 months ago
That's kind of a BIG hole in the reporting of this story. Details, folks. Details. We can handle details. Don't hold back!!
richrecruiter
· 2 months ago
Third paragraph, last sentence of this post: Also, if you find my retweets annoying, then you'll be able to turn them off. http://bit.ly/jHTV4
jwewrite
· 2 months ago
I absolutely hate this proposed new system of re-tweeting. I often include my own comments as a way to join the conversation. I could bitly it myself with my own comment, but I want to acknowledge where the information came from. If something is re-tweeted numerous times, it is confusing to see all of those avatars across the bottom of the page. With the current system, I can easily click on an @name and check out the original source and following them if I want.
app
· 2 months ago
And the introduction of a flood of avatars from people you are not subscribed to into your stream will just make the ads they plan on pushing just that much easier to "accept", subconsciously, by first being desensitized by the new RTs. Quite clever of Twitter, if you ask me.
Rob Quigley
· 2 months ago
I do like the new retweet method proposed as it provides a "most popular" section by people you follow and for your tweets. That adds value to me. The new retweet method is a bit like the Facebook version of "Like." More people will be engaged to retweet content through this manner. There are a lot of passive users on Twitter and I bet this goes a long way to letting more users engage in the system. I think Twitter might want to also add a "quote" feature which allows people to easily copy and past tweet text so a user could add their comment manually about content that has already been published in a tweet. Quoting someone would not count as a retweet but as a new tweet.
Anyone who normally gets retweeted a lot should like the new retweet method because it will get them exposure into new follower networks and with their tweet unchanged - so it can easily be retweeted even more without being shortened to account for the username and RT characters. Many people complained about the @ messaging change as a devaluing of the ability to find new followers. With the new RT method, If you consistently *see* someone who is retweeted into your timeline with the new RT system you might be even more inclined to follow that person. Celebs, media outlets, and the Twitter elite might embrace this new system because it allows them the added exposure and a quick way to track which tweets of theirs have gained traction.
Patrick
· 2 months ago
What would stop someone from retweeting in the soon to be surplanted old style? Why couldn't I copy and paste a tweet and then add my own comment as is custom now? I don't see how the new system will stop people who really want to stick with the status quo from doing just that. I think they're just being part of the crowd who always poo poo's change in any form since they're power to retweet and comment will not be abolished.
Tegan Dowling
· 2 months ago
Favorites! Show anything I favorite in my outgoing stream, rather in the manner of this proposed retweet mechanism. Then set up the RT retweet mechanism the way many twitter clients do -- as a way of pasting the original into my twitter form ready for me to comment and/or edit and/or manipulate anydamnhow I like.
Jason Drohn
· 2 months ago
I hope they can pull off the new retweeting system. I'd hate to be on the programming team, but it'll be cool when it's done..
-- Jason
Benjamin Dobson
· 2 months ago
The old system is only broken because a minority stubbornly refuse to accept that "via" and "RT" mean different things. It's the difference between He said, "Replies are broken," and He said replies are broken.
Additionally, when someone retweets, even if they don't add a comment, part of their character comes with it. For example:
eg RT @eg2: Why is life so hard? :( eg First the keys, then the car, now this. eg I feel horrible today
Here, if you just saw eg2's tweet as is, without eg's avatar and name, you wouldn't associate it with this string of tweets from eg, and as such the mood would not be carried in the same way. It depersonalises the experience.
Jeanie Straub
· 2 months ago
I probably won't be re-tweeting much after this change, because I add my own comments. Even if it is just to say "you go"! I want to be able to say if someone's tweet sucked or was fabulous. Whatnot. I figured it out. If I can figure it out, anyone can!
James White
· 2 months ago
I think this is definitely a good idea as many people I have tried to introduce to Twitter have become confused by the idea of Retweeting..
Giannii
· 2 months ago
Yeah, I'm not a hundred percent on the format but I like the overall concept. The only thing I see being lost it the personal touch from each person. I'm sure if there was a way to list that it would be much better.
r0cketman22
· 2 months ago
To everyone who disagrees: Once again, this is not for you. This is for the majority. The ones not posting on Mashable. Remember that.
Also remember that things evolve and change. Twitter is taking this a step at a time and we should be glad that they're innovations are not becoming stagnant.
lectrictic
· 2 months ago
Gacko! Sounds good to me. Add context in your own tweet immediately before or after. As it is, if you possibly want to comment WITHIN the same tweet that contains your RT'd one, you have about 8 characters left to do it in
Who Cares
· 2 months ago
Lame. I can't believe time is even being wasted on this. There is no 'broken system'. RT, via, etc. is not confusing to anyone with an IQ above that of a fungus. The way things are retweeted now is more personal, more creative. This new system will turn-off a lot of people. All of this crap because some newbies are too dumb to figure it out and engage in the process called 'learning'. How lazy can people be? I was once new to Twitter and I figured it out all on my own, and I'm glad I did it that way.
Rob Quigley
· 2 months ago
Not sure but what if Twitter used the new retweet method but also allowed you to attach a 140 character comment to it before hitting send. Then when you went to the retweet section you could click on the small avatars and it would expand to show any comments about the original tweet. This isn't going to solve any issue of having people RT with their comment showing up in their follower's network timeline but would allow a bit more room to discuss the tweet you are passing along to your followers. Just a quick thought - not sure how I feel about it.
Tracey
· 2 months ago
Plain and simple...I don't like it. It sucks. And I am a casual user and have managed to figure out the whole retweet thing quite easily. Sharing is what twitter is all about. You are taking away the interaction I get from passing in other ppls info. Again, this sucks!
Kathy
· 2 months ago
TWITTER PEOPLE: RT SOMETHING MORE USEFUL. LIKE PROJECT INVISIBLE CHILDREN. IF EVERYONE ON TWITTER DONATED 1$ AND HAVE A SET GOAL?
Bryant Harper
· 2 months ago
I like the idea of making it easier and more consistent. We primarily Tweet Amber Alerts and Missing Endangered Alerts that we publish and Code Amber. We also provide an iPhone App to receive our alerts on the go based on your geolocation using the GPS feature of the phone. Re-Tweets are always requested and many of our followers RT the Alerts which greatly expands our reach. If someone gets an Alert from us on their phone and they are able to RT easily that would be wonderful.
Kathy
· 2 months ago
How hard is it really to do "RT:" KEEP IT SIMPLE FOLKS. Our minds like simplicity.
Chethan Thimmappa
· 2 months ago
That's a good Move. I support Retweet Project!
D.
· 2 months ago
When the new way comes out I'm going to use it, if I'm not commenting on a retweet. If I comment then I'll retweet the old way until Twitter incorporates commenting in the new system. Simple. There should be no debate about it. It's their thing, they can do what they want with it.
I don't understand the complaints. It's a free service!!! Be glad you don't have to pay and go with the flow. Plus, there's always a way around things. I would think you wouldn't have to use the new system if you didn't have to.
lawlnova
· 2 months ago
So true. When I first joined Twitter, I almost quit within 10 minutes. Thank goodness I already had Twitter-savvy friends: they explained everything to me, from trending topics, to RTs, to replying people with @. It needs to be integrated onto Twitter; otherwise, there's simply more reason to just stick with your user-friendly Facebook.
Jason
· 2 months ago
DO NOT LIKE not being able to edit, add my own comments. Fix that, sounds good to go.
diablo
· 2 months ago
Does it matter if the website is going to standardize RT? I use Twittelator Pro on the iPhone and Twhirl on my Mac far more than the web and both allow for various ways to format your RT. So problem is not resolved.
SL
· 2 months ago
Will they impliment a "retweet" button too! There is a reply button but no retweet button. Unless I've missed something, the only way to retweet is to copy the tweet into the tweetbox and at RT at the begging.
As far as everyone's concerns; why not have a retweet button (to satisfy me) that simply loads the original tweet into the tweetbox, from there you can add a comment and hit send yourself. The system would simply make RT a "keyword" and then aggregate all of a users retweets into one place.
AceNewsService
· 2 months ago
I post a lot of retweets and comment on as many as the characters of twitter allow, instead of investing in RT`s as they are ok using a desktop like seesmic or tweetdeck maybe a few more characters to comment on the 1000`s of RT`s would be more helpful. But thanks for a great service Biz from the Giraffe.
thedp
· 2 months ago
Twitter will be just as lame???
kathyswanson
· 2 months ago
Easy and quick adoption is with any tool so while adding comments is important to many of us, if the standard retweet option helps adoption and usability, I'm all for it.
Kim S
· 2 months ago
I think Twitter taking control of the whole retweet thing is for the most part a good ideal. Any opinions?
XanxiuZ
· 1 month ago
You're kidding, right? Have you even read any of the above 25,000 comments where people ARE expressing their opinions about this impending change?
Matthew Lowery
· 2 months ago
To ME it looks good. Simplifies, and unifies. I never comment on RT's anyway. But I CAN see what some people are annoyed with.
iTbay
· 2 months ago
Rt - nice post Ben...... Must get new users for it to become more dyanmic and innovative.....facebook is on a tear!!! The tweet lanuage needs a changing I agree but commenting is VERY important but may invert the meaning of a tweet at times
@philipargy
· 2 months ago
Retweets would be tweeter if the 140 char limit were increased by the length of the retweet prefix - that way you can retweet without compromising the integrity of the original by having to truncate or paraphrase it
praxis22
· 2 months ago
I doubt it's turning people off twitter, it's an informal system, whether it's "officially supported" or not won't make much difference I reckon. Could be interesting, but I'd like the ability to turn it off if it uses too much screen real estate.
Social Mix
· 2 months ago
Its not a case of re-inventing the wheel ... its about making it better.
adamsonx
· 1 month ago
It's more like taking a wheel and making it into a pentagon that doesn't function because it 'looks better'.
Susan Field
· 2 months ago
I'm a big fan of retweeting. I think it's a matter of respect and acknowledges the tweet. I also feel it brings more comaraderie with tweetville. Everyne loves to be quoted/retweeded. Accolades Twitter.
Karuna Venter
· 2 months ago
But...how do U know U won't be able to comment? Any screen shots of the actual Retweet form? Or did they tell you this in a conversation? I'd expect to see the full text of the Retweet under the 2nd two tabs of the Retweet screen above....
Ghada Lancer
· 2 months ago
I'm following up the news of Twitter 'ReTweet' project on Mashable and totally agree with you, it will make tweeting 'cleaner' but also want to find someway to make a comment.
I loved Yahoo Meme for that ...I can find the original source, the number of 'RePosts', add comments & find the whole conversation in one place :D
Keith Wilson
· 2 months ago
I like the idea and design, but won't this just encourage spammers to start retweeting as a way of "advertising" themselves on people's profiles? Unless there is an option to only show friends' (or friends of friends') retweets then this could quickly get out of control, making the feature effectively useless.
On the other hand, I'd like to see favourites work in a similar way so that you can see how many users have favourited a Tweet along with a feed of your friends' favourites, as opposed to separate feeds for each individual friend which I suspect hardly anyone ever looks at.
Rita
· 2 months ago
I love the fact that Twitter is going to incorporate retweeting into the site. What I hate the most about the current system is that it's hard or impossible to retweet someone who has used up all 140 characters, because there's no way of fitting in the "RT @username" or "via @username," and sometimes it's hard to shorten up what they have tweeted. Although, I do hope they later incorporate commenting into the retweeting system. The only problem I think I have with this whole new retweeting system is that it might complicate Twitter. The reason Twitter is my favorite social networking site is because it's so simple. I don't want to Twitter to become just another social networking site like Facebook and MySpace.
BrendaYoung
· 2 months ago
I will probably use this new feature if I do not have comments but, use the old format if I have a comment. One of the reasons for the confusion is that when trying to retweet the original post is too long & needs to be rephrased, especially if you want to add a small comment.
I suppose if you agree with the original post you can leave the original post as is. Sometimes your comment is relevant to the meaning you want to ascribe to the post or the link. This new format does not help.
Also, I like to give credit to the original poster but I also like to add some value to the people who follow me. It's not all about making the original poster more popular. Much of the value of Twitter is in sharing and learning. Thus, the comments to the original post are very important.
barbfmc
· 2 months ago
I think this is a step backwards. No doubt. I've been involved with enough software to know a deal is signed with the devil when changes are implemented to ease the way for new users. While they quickly become old users - we're all still working under new user limitations. You're throwing features out to ease the way for uniform limitations based on newuser understanding. In addition - most Twitter apps can't maintain the avatars we have now. How are they going to handle that mess of avatars in the proposal?
Lisa
· 2 months ago
I have been a twitter user for about 3 months now - I started out casually and never had a problem figuring it out. Removing the RT comment option seems counter productive since the ability to design our own RTs and adding our own comments is a big piece of the twitter experience. Many company's IT groups like to put people in neat little boxes to support them easier, and make new functionality or restrictions for a certain user set, but that's usually a mistake by not to seeing the bigger picture of the users that have been there all along. You may want to review and re-evaluate at least that option before removing. Thank you!
handwashcold
· 2 months ago
I thought this looked great! ...right up until the part about no commenting. I rarely RT without a comment...so I would probably not use the new system, but continue using the old syntax.
Once commenting is available, I'll be all over it. Good luck, Twitter admin!
Tucker
· 2 months ago
Project Retweet is the most important thing Twitter will have done in a long time. I believe the service is going to explode because "sharing" things that we like will actually be tracked through different levels of people. Tumblr has done this for a long time with "reblogging." It just hasn't hit the mainstream status Twitter has yet.
singlepayercentral
· 1 month ago
Uhm -was the new idea user tested or is this a big experiment with Twitter users being the user testing base?
singlepayercentral
· 1 month ago
I don't get what the problem is really and how it was determined that something was terribly wrong. Frankly, I don't get why users can't eliminate the RT letters with the traditional " symbols & is therefore more universally understood (and more internationally friendly).
Stone
· 1 month ago
Wow! I guess I'll live with whatever Twitter team comes up with. Its not really that complicated though to do a retweet or find the main string. Still...I don't think I'll mind. Prob won't make much of a difference to me. We'll just have to wait and see.
All Comments
Best,
Daina
Yes, I think the RT system is a mess and Twitter needs to adopt it, but this isn't the way forward. And it's going to get very irritating seeing the exact same message again and again in streams.
My prediction: because this system will overlay with lots of other people using the existing methods, RTs are going to be even *more* of a mess. I really can't see why they couldn't do what they're doing now, but let you edit the prose. If they made it so you couldn't change the URL, but the text around it could be edited, everything would be fine and dandy.
Of course, it's not always just links we're retweeting, but that's the only part that I think Twitter (and related businesses) have any real interest in tracking. And we've not even begun to look at the implications for external Twitter clients, all of which use the old-style method.
Messy at first? Yeah. But once they iterate and get it right people will adopt.
How difficult would it be to send out a short, but useful FAQ email each time somebody signed up? Here's how you retweet, check your mentions/replies, what the @spam account does, etc etc.
RT's are good at the moment because they can be personal for that person. Most of my RT's I add a comment at the end of it, but once 'Project retweet' arrives, it'll just ruin the whole experience.
Twitter needs to remember that it's the public who use it, and a step forward for them could be a huge step back for the majority of users.
http://bit.ly/jHTV4
Anyone who normally gets retweeted a lot should like the new retweet method because it will get them exposure into new follower networks and with their tweet unchanged - so it can easily be retweeted even more without being shortened to account for the username and RT characters. Many people complained about the @ messaging change as a devaluing of the ability to find new followers. With the new RT method, If you consistently *see* someone who is retweeted into your timeline with the new RT system you might be even more inclined to follow that person. Celebs, media outlets, and the Twitter elite might embrace this new system because it allows them the added exposure and a quick way to track which tweets of theirs have gained traction.
-- Jason
Additionally, when someone retweets, even if they don't add a comment, part of their character comes with it. For example:
Here, if you just saw eg2's tweet as is, without eg's avatar and name, you wouldn't associate it with this string of tweets from eg, and as such the mood would not be carried in the same way. It depersonalises the experience.
Also remember that things evolve and change. Twitter is taking this a step at a time and we should be glad that they're innovations are not becoming stagnant.
I don't understand the complaints. It's a free service!!! Be glad you don't have to pay and go with the flow. Plus, there's always a way around things. I would think you wouldn't have to use the new system if you didn't have to.
As far as everyone's concerns; why not have a retweet button (to satisfy me) that simply loads the original tweet into the tweetbox, from there you can add a comment and hit send yourself. The system would simply make RT a "keyword" and then aggregate all of a users retweets into one place.
But I CAN see what some people are annoyed with.
I loved Yahoo Meme for that ...I can find the original source, the number of 'RePosts', add comments & find the whole conversation in one place :D
On the other hand, I'd like to see favourites work in a similar way so that you can see how many users have favourited a Tweet along with a feed of your friends' favourites, as opposed to separate feeds for each individual friend which I suspect hardly anyone ever looks at.
I suppose if you agree with the original post you can leave the original post as is. Sometimes your comment is relevant to the meaning you want to ascribe to the post or the link. This new format does not help.
Also, I like to give credit to the original poster but I also like to add some value to the people who follow me. It's not all about making the original poster more popular. Much of the value of Twitter is in sharing and learning. Thus, the comments to the original post are very important.
Once commenting is available, I'll be all over it. Good luck, Twitter admin!
www.Twitter.com/TweetwithStone