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Twitter is buzzing about a new change Twitter implemented not too long ago. The reaction by users though has been far from approving.
Twitter made what it called a "small settings update." The change was to the @reply system, a staple of communication on Twitter. The result changed the way many users see Twitter conversations, and as a result they have gone into protest mode. Thousands of Twitter users are now up-in-arms and organizing their efforts with the #fixreplies hashtag, which is currently the top trend on Twitter.
Here's what's happened: until today, you had three options for handling how you viewed @replied. You could show @replies from nobody, @replies from everybody, or only the @replies of people you were following, whether it was to them or from them. With the new update, there's only the last option available.
The intent of the change seems to revolve around simplifying and reducing the noise of the Twitter stream for newer users. Yet the result also takes away a valuable way to discover new people, new conversations, and takes away options users previously had. All of this has lead to an uproar.
In addition to using the #fixreplies hashtag, users are placing characters or words at the start of their tweets, rather than a username as a workaround. The reaction has been so strong that Twitter co-founder Evan Williams tweeted that they were reading feedback and considering alternatives.
One thing to remember about users of social media is that they do not react well when you take away choices. Facebook has seen it several times before when it launched News Feed without privacy options and the homepage redesign, which took away several features as well.