true77Twitter users can now edit tweets, a long-awaited feature that has finally been implemented. However, the implications of this new ability are still not entirely clear.
Since its inception, Twitter users have been requesting an edit button for nearly 16 years. Despite initial resistance, Twitter has finally succumbed to these demands. However, the edit button is not without its critics and concerns.
One major concern is the potential for misuse and abuse of the edit feature. Critics worry about the possibility of powerful individuals altering offensive tweets, changing the context of conversations, and manipulating the public record.
How to edit a tweet
Currently, only subscribers to Twitter Blue, a premium service costing $5 per month, have access to the edit feature. Users can edit their tweets within a 30-minute window after posting by clicking on the hamburger button on the top-right corner of the tweet.
However, there are limitations to the edit feature, such as a maximum of five edits per tweet. Once this limit is reached, the edit button disappears, and further changes are not allowed.
Impact on likes and retweets
When a tweet is edited, the original version remains visible with a timestamp, documenting the changes made. Likes and retweets are retained, with a record of which version received each interaction.
Quote tweets and retweets of edited tweets display the original version, with a notification of the changes. Users can choose to retweet the edited version, but the original version remains visible as well.
According to Hank Green, users with push notifications set for their tweets will receive a fresh notification for every single edit, so big accounts should take note.
Can an old version of an edited tweet be linked to?
Yes, tweets with different versions have different URLs, allowing access to previous versions. The original version is not removed from the permanent record, although replies, retweets, and likes are disabled for edited tweets. However, the share button remains functional.
This feature is still in the testing phase, and it is possible that there are vulnerabilities that could be exploited for pranks or to cause harm. As of now, however, no such weaknesses have been identified.
