Back in 2006, Twitter launched as a microblogging website, allowing users to post tweets up to 140 characters. This brevity was key to the platform’s success because it set Twitter apart from the long-form blogging platforms that were the norm of the day. And the short posts ensured users would consume more content from more creators.
The 140-character limit stuck around for over a decade before receiving a modest raise to 280 characters in 2017. But as of today, Elon Musk’s Twitter has now upped that limit again—if you’re a Twitter Blue subscriber, anyway.
That new limit? 10,000 characters.
The official @TwitterWrite made the 10,000-character announcement in a relatively short tweet, announcing that in addition to the insane amount of characters, Twitter Blue users can now also italicize and bold characters as well. (What, no option for Comic Sans?)
If you’re wondering what a 10,000-character tweet looks like, check out the one below from Jane Manchun Wong. It’s as tedious and annoying as you’d think. Just scrolling through it as fast as possible takes minutes.
As many people have pointed out, a 10,000-character limit on Twitter essentially turns the microblogging site into Medium, Subsstack, or WordPress. It destroys the original essence of the platform, which set it apart from other blogging sites.
Of course, many Twitter users took to Twitter to voice their unhappiness over the new character limit.
And of course, the memes have already started…
The 10,000-character limit is available to Twitter Blue subscribers today. But based on the reaction on Twitter to the news, don’t expect many people to sit there and read through any of your tweets that are that long.
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.
