Twitter - page 3

Twitter tests feature that lets users clamp down on conversations

By

Twitter tests new feature that lets users limit who can reply.
Imagine a Twitter where only specified people can reply to a given tweet.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Twitter is expanding testing of a new feature that lets users specify exactly who can reply to their tweets. The new conversation settings, which Twitter said Wednesday it is rolling out to a small percentage of users, lets people limit replies to people they follow or to certain individuals.

It’s Twitter’s latest attempt to tame toxic conversations on the free-wheeling platform. (As you might expect, not everyone is thrilled with the concept.)

Twitter testing new threaded conversation layout on iOS and web

By

A new Twitter threaded conversation layout might declutter the tweet machine.
A new threaded conversation layout might declutter Twitter.
Image: Twitter

Twitter announced Tuesday it has started testing a new way threaded conversation layout meant to make it easier for its users to see who is communicating to whom.

The new layout – being tested on Twitter’s iOS app and via the web – is meant to help users keep better track of long threads and people responding to sub-tweets coming off an original thread.

Celebs join the COVID-19 fight by telling billions to stay home

By

Selena Gomez shows us how to wash
If the singing thing doesn't pan out...
Screenshot: Selena Gomez/Instagram

Say what you will about celebrity influencers. They are using social media to tell millions of followers to stay home and “wash your hands.”

Taking a break from vanity and self-branding (well, sort of), influencers have answered the call by the United Nations to use their platforms to promote public health messages to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Apple donates medical supplies and money to help fight COVID-19

By

milan
Apple is closed for business in Italy.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed this week that Apple has been making substantial donations at home and abroad to help combat the global coronavirus epidemic.

In a tweet this morning, Cook said Apple has been helping Protezione Civile — the national body that deals with the prediction, prevention and management of emergency events in Italy. Not only is Apple opening its wallet but it’s also helping Italians get crucial medical supplies.

Mailbrew turns Twitter, YouTube and Reddit updates into email newsletters

By

mailbrew envelopes
Mailbrew sends the internet to your inbox -- in a good way.
Photo: Diana Akhmetianova/Unsplash

Apparently, people love email newsletters. Perhaps it’s because they are clean and free of annoying ads and endless “related” “content.” Or maybe its because everyone secretly still uses their email inbox as a de facto inbox for everything in their online life. If you are one of these newsletter lovers, then you will be super-stoked to hear about Mailbrew, which gathers up the latest posts and news from your favorite time sinks, and converts them into emails.

Twitter considers orange color as fake news warning

By

A Twitter posts with fake news gets a big warning sign.
Warning messages like this one could soon appear on Twitter posts with fake news.
Photo: Twitter/Cult of Mac

Twitter is looking for ways to notify its readers when posts by politicians are judged to be factually untrue. The social-networking service is considering attaching large, orange “harmfully misleading” warnings to posts that are fake news.

Instagram CEO says there’s no official iPad app because… they’re busy?

By

Instagram volume indicator
iPhone? Heck, yes. iPad? Apparently not.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPad may be the world’s most popular tablet, but there’s no official Instagram app available for it — and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri says it’s because the photo- and video-sharing social network is just too busy to make one.

As reported by Verge editor Chris Welch, Mosseri said that “we only have so many people, and lots to do. … It hasn’t bubbled up as the next best thing to do yet.”

Twitter now lets you add emoji reactions to direct messages

By

Twitter-emoji-reactions
Sometimes an emoji says it all.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Twitter now lets you add Facebook-style emoji reactions to direct messages.

There are currently seven to choose from — one more than Facebook offers — including the familiar thumbs up, laughing face, and love heart. They help Twitter keep up with rival messaging platforms, such as iMessage.

Twitter will ‘probably never’ let you edit your tweets, CEO says

By

Twitter has changed its mind on deleting inactive user accounts (for now)
Twitter is crushing dreams in 2020.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey this week warned that Twitter will “probably never” let you edit your tweets.

Editing has long been the most-requested feature among the Twitter community. But despite making some “practical considerations,” the micro-blogging network has dashed hopes it will ever happen.

Twitter has changed its mind on deleting inactive user accounts (for now)

By

Twitter has changed its mind on deleting inactive user accounts (for now)
Twitter is rolling back its recent announcement.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Twitter’s decision to remove accounts which had been inactive for six months or more sounded good in theory. It would free up a bunch of user names and, in theory, make Twitter more transparent by showing only information (such as follower count) that reflected current active users.

In theory. Soon after Twitter revealed the new policy this week, people raised concerns about what this would mean for users who had passed away. Why does this matter? There’s a very good reason.

Tim Cook lights up World Photography Day with gorgeous iPhone pix

By

Tim Cook retweets photo for World Photography Day
Beautifully #shotoniphone in the Netherlands.
Screenshot: Patrick Smit/Twitter

Apple CEO Tim Cook never has to think about how best to observe World Photography Day. He can search Twitter for the hashtag “Shot on iPhone” and look for moving images to repost.

Cook’s curation never disappoints as evident by today’s observance of an unofficial holiday honoring dedicated shooters.