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Twitter Faces Retweet Retreat

Like Facebook, Twitter is finding it increasingly difficult to make even minor service changes without inciting virtual riots. The latest instance involves the micro-blogging service's new "Retweet" feature, which was at least designed to make it easier for users to republish the tweets of others. Along with untold Twitterers, Hubspot's Dan Zarella says the feature "could completely eviscerate most of the value out of Retweets," while PC Mag's Lance Ulanoff calls it "frightening dictatorial."

At issue is the fact that the meta data -- about who tweeted and who retweeted -- is not included in the tweet text itself. Still, assures Fast Company, "it's nowhere near as apocalyptic as some bloggers make it seem," before going on the explain why the move is "actually pretty ingenious."

Read the whole story at Fast Company »

1 comment about "Twitter Faces Retweet Retreat ".
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  1. Mike Templeton from Aisleside, November 12, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.

    It is VERY important for Twitter to listen to users and watch the way they are using the service, but ultimately I think the changes that Facebook and Twitter have made to their platforms are all for the better.

    There is always going to be an outcry somewhere, but eventually people adjust, get over it, or move on.

    The most interesting thing about Project Retweet and this new way of handling retweets is that it has been public knowledge for several months. Twitter started the process by explaining to users how it would work, so why the outcry now? Shouldn't people have been concerned back in the beginning?

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