Twitter introduces Fleets, Snapchat like self-deleting Stories

Twitter, joining the fray of social media sites, is now testing its impression of Stories in Brazil. The company dubbed Snapchat stories like feature to “Fleets,” allowing users to post temporary content on their Twitter accounts which disappears after 24 hours. The stories – Fleets – does not allow to receive likes, replies, and retweets, however, users may reply with a direct message.

The company issued a statement about the new feature in an official blog post saying, “Fleets are for you to share your ideas and momentary opinions. These posts disappear after 24 hours and have no Retweets, likes or public comments. In an initial survey, people told us that, once the Fleets are gone, they are more comfortable sharing everyday and everyday thoughts. We hope that those people who are not usually comfortable with Tweeting use Fleets to talk about the reflections that come to their heads.”

How to create a Twitter Fleet 

Creating a fleet is a piece of old tackle. Users will tap on a ‘+’ button on top of the timeline. Add text, post a video or share your photo. Click on ‘post’ and there you go. Your fleets will appear on a row of temporary posts of your followers right at the top of the home page. 

Twitter enabled the feature for both iOS and Android users, from last Wednesday in Brazil only. The test will continue to a few months before rolling out the fleets feature globally. 

Fleets User Interface

Fleets won’t just be a text of 280-characters as Twitter will also allow videos (of 2-10 minutes or up to 512MB), GIFs, and images. A user can post multiple fleets and other users can view it by swiping up and down, instead of tapping on the sides of screens like Instagram or WhatsApp. However, a user can swipe left or right to view the next user’s fleets.  

Twitter says the swiping gestures, as they are different as compared to other popular social networks, to view the multiple stories could be changed later on account of the user’s feedback.

Users will be able to see fleets from people whom they follow and who follow them back. The most recent stories posted by people, who follow back, will be visible first. Then they can see the stories of other accounts that they follow. 

Unlike Facebook and Instagram stories, users can not like or retweet the fleets. Yet users can respond to it, if allowed by the original poster, with reaction emojis and text which ends up privately in DMs.

A Fleets Journey

A push from an activist investor, Elliott Management Corporation, and Chroma Lab acquisition paved a creative change to Twitter’s social network. Staying focused on core usage, people can now enjoy a different way of interacting.

Twitter will get no more lag behind other social platforms as the activist investor has bought approximately 4% of the company shares, and they seek to replace Jack Dorsey as CEO. 

Following Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, and now Twitter aptly titling stories feature, LinkedIn is also testing its stories feature internally.

Users Reaction To Fleets

Suffice to say, Twitter users weren’t ready for the Fleets and prompt to #RIPTwitter, becoming a top trend and of course a torrent to memes.

Another user tweeted:

READ: RIPTwitter trends as firm tests vanishing tweets

Users now trolling Twitter for copying apps owned by rival Facebook:

However, Beykpour is sure that Fleets is a new way of sharing and seeing people’s thoughts, and it is designed to keep user expereince in mind.