If you’re feeling brave, Twitter is (once again) letting you receive direct messages from any old person. As before, you’ll have to opt-in by ticking a box in the settings — but once you do, even folks who don’t follow you can send you a note. On top of that, you can now text anyone who follows you, even if you’re not interested in them. That’s a big change from the status quo, since direct messaging has only been possible between folks who follow each other. To drive home the point, Twitter put a Direct Message button front and center on your contact page for its iOS and Android apps.
Twitter had a similar option before that it cut if off just a month later, so why is it trying again when user user privacy is under scrutiny? The social network says it wants to open up “a powerful and engaging messaging experience” for users, even “beyond the confines of their contacts.” It recently allowed group direct messages, and likely wants to defend against apps like Snapchat or Facebook’s WhatsApp, the latter with an incredible 800 million users. At one point, rumors even suggested Twitter would develop a standalone messaging app.
Given the amount of harassment that occurs on Twitter, a lot of users may be reluctant to let Joe Public contact them. On the other hand, if you made a boner in a tweet or link, someone could point it out in a direct message and save you a public shaming. In any event, the dedicated button is clear sign of Twitter’s emphasis on messaging, so we’d not be shocked to see more such features going forward.
Filed under: Software, Mobile
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