Microblogging site Twitter has been known for letting users express their thoughts in all but 140 characters. Now, the site is putting an end to its trademark 140-character limit. At least for its direct messaging arm.
According to a report from The Indian Express, the character limit ends on August 13, Thursday. The direct messaging feature of the site is not an aspect many Twitter users notice. But it is a feature that allows users to communicate quietly in twitter-verse. Now, users get to message each other with up to 10, 000 characters.
The new character limit seems to point to Twitter becoming more of an email service rather than a microblogging site. The newly-expanded feature is handy for conversing with fellow Twitter users whom one does not really know outside of the social network.
The update rolls out to users of the Twitter website. Mobile users can receive long DMs, but SMS DMs will be cut into multiple short messages.
Twitter has also launched the Group Direct Messages earlier this year saying it is made "to help users connect more easily and directly on Twitter with other users, causes and businesses". The update will also roll out for website users.
The move to end the character limit for Twitter's direct messaging feature may indicate the same thing for tweets. This, however, has not been commented on by the Twitter management. The microblogging site has been founded in 2006 and the length of the messages posted on the site has set it apart from other social networking platforms.
The site has also popularised the use of hashtags, which serve as indicators for trending topics. It is also used as an avenue for personalities and businesses to connect with their followers, updating, announcing and promoting themselves. The site is also a platform for news and updates, with some live blogging to report news online.
