Making your next tweet fit into 140 characters just got a bit easier.
Twitter announced Monday that they are removing photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and Quote Tweets from counting towards your character total. However, links will still count in your 140 characters.
Say more about what's happening! Rolling out now: photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and Quote Tweets no longer count toward your 140 characters. pic.twitter.com/I9pUC0NdZC
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 19, 2016
Current Twitter users having been holding their breath since May waiting for these changes. However, removing media from the 140 character limit may be part of Twitter’s larger strategy to encourage new users to join by simplifying the platform and making it easier to engage in conversations.
Another feature in testing and not mentioned in the announcement is that user’s handles (@username) will no longer count against your 140 character total either. All these character-count changes are giving Twitter users additional “elbow room” in an already limited space.
But, if you one of those users holding out for that character limit to breach that 140 ceiling, you may be waiting indefinitely. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey silenced any speculation about removing the limit.“It’s staying,” Forsey said on NBC’s Today Show. “It’s a good constraint for us, and it allows for of-the-moment brevity.”
