It finally happened — Twitter increased its character limit from 140 to 280 characters per tweet, and the world hasn’t been the same since.
After first testing the increased character limit back in September, the feature is rolling out to all users starting today, and some have already taken FULL advantage.
While some users weren’t immediately fans of the new 280 limit…
if you think 280 characters is exciting, try reading a book
— BuzzFeed Books (@BuzzFeedBooks) November 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/JoePerticone/status/928054923224379393
https://twitter.com/boy_from_school/status/928049234732912640
… others used it to make important statements to the world:
Wow! 280 characters! Let me take this opportunity to urge you to call your local representatives and ask them to make another Tony Hawk game. The last one was a travesty and we cannot let the franchise be sullied. Please this is important do not let his legacy be tarnished
— jacksfilms (@jacksfilms) November 7, 2017
But most people just had way too much fun with it…
In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories. *DUN DUN*
— ??? & ????? (@lawandordertv) November 7, 2017
sorry, no. there's a mistake. Moonlight, u guys won best picture. Moonlight won. this is not a joke. come up here. this a not a joke, i'm afraid they read the wrong thing. this is not a joke. Moonlight has won best picture. Moonlight: Best Picture.
— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) November 7, 2017
Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute.
Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo.
While the congre— Death Star PR (@DeathStarPR) November 7, 2017
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world pic.twitter.com/FXdeBzZoJo— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) November 8, 2017
This will be our first 280 characters tweet.
Yet, our message can be summed up in one word:
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace— UNESCO ?️ #Education #Sciences #Culture ?? (@UNESCO) November 8, 2017
…but not everyone got the update right away:
me watching all my mutuals posting their 280 tweets but im still stuck with 140.. pic.twitter.com/rCCDbtvAaA
— maja (@majaissokind) November 8, 2017
Or even got the joke…
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— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) November 7, 2017
Here’s how Twitter explains the reason for the increased character limit:
“Historically, 9% of Tweets in English hit the character limit. This reflects the challenge of fitting a thought into a Tweet, often resulting in lots of time spent editing and even at times abandoning Tweets before sending. With the expanded character count, this problem was massively reduced – that number dropped to only 1% of Tweets running up against the limit.
“Since we saw Tweets hit the character limit less often, we believe people spent less time editing their Tweets in the composer. This shows that more space makes it easier for people to fit thoughts in a Tweet, so they could say what they want to say, and send Tweets faster than before.”
Now get out there and enjoy your new-found Tweetdom.
https://twitter.com/Twitter/status/928004549478047744
