Twitter announces new Stories feature "Fleets" and the internet hates it

5 March 2020, 12:17

Twitter Stories. Picture: @kayvz via Twitter

By Jazmin Duribe

"Rename this app to 'Bomboclaat-Facebook' already."

Twitter have become the latest social media platform to introduce a Stories-style feature. On Wednesday (Mar 4), it was announced that Twitter were testing "Fleets" their version of Instagram Stories.

Fleets can include text, photos and videos, but other features have not been confirmed just yet. Unlike a regular tweet, Fleets will disappear after 24 hours and it can be accessed by simply tapping on your avatar. You can't get Retweets, Likes, or public replies on your Fleet, however, people can send you a DM.

Twitter's Product Lead Kayvon Beykpour, recognised that this all sounds suspiciously familiar. Like, we all have Instagram and Snapchat? Well, apparently there's more features coming. "Yes, there are many similarities with the Stories format that will feel familiar to people," Beykpour tweeted. "There are also a few intentional differences to make the experience more focused on sharing and seeing people’s thoughts." Right…

We’ve been listening to this feedback and working to create new capabilities that address some of the anxieties that hold people back from talking on Twitter. Today, in Brazil only, we’re starting a test (on Android and iOS) for one of those new capabilities. It’s called Fleets. pic.twitter.com/6MLs8irb0c
— Kayvon Beykpour (@kayvz) March 4, 2020

The feature is being tested by users in Brazil, so we don't know when or if it will roll out to the rest of the world. Apparently, it all came about after Twitter received feedback from users who wanted to tweet more freely (the delete button is right there...). Well, that feedback certainly didn't come from the internet because this is not what we asked for. #RIPTwitter started trending soon after the news was announced.

In fact, everyone is seriously hating on Fleets right now.

Twitter Users: Can we please get a edit button..
Twitter: We’re proud to announce story features! #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/KdOwtCwaYA
— Matt Ayd (@MattAyd) March 5, 2020

TBH most of the stories see on Facebook and Instagram are memes from twitter...

I clearly don’t get what twitter wants us to post on their story 🤔 #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/xeiz2Blkhm
— [La]ssy 🗑 Laden (@AHT_YssY) March 5, 2020

we moved to twitter bcz we were tired of this shit of adding hundreds of stories daily and now Twitter adding stories features like Instagram and Facebook #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/W0G0vKeutJ
— 💤 (@Shani___Says) March 5, 2020

#RIPTwitter
Snapchat: *adds stories*

Facebook: *adds stories*

Instagram: *adds stories*

Twitter (being used by Satan): pic.twitter.com/L1T5XzGIi6
— Eu Sunt Dracul 🥀 (@Viva_el_Nathan) March 5, 2020

Twitter adding 24hrs story function to it’s features at a time when all we need is an “edit tweet” option in order to minimize the frustration of deleting tweets over small errors. Rename this app to “Bomboclaat-Facebook” already #RIPTwitter
— Abdool Moh  (@abdool_moh) March 5, 2020

Me : I am tired of seeing stories on Facebook and Instagram

Twitter : Ok, let me add more tiredness.#RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/IU0jhoYHJj
— Tasin Abid (@tatweetsabc) March 5, 2020

▪︎Edit Button
▪︎Deleting wrong messages in the DM
▪︎quoting messages when replying DM

These are features that will add value to Twitter, if the story feature is added, the four main social media apps automatically becomes the same, now what's the joy?#RIPTwitter
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐚𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 🌎🇳🇬 (@thetalkativeNG) March 5, 2020

#RIPTwitter

Tweeps: What we need is an edit button, not a stories feature

Twitter: pic.twitter.com/029s81HWlk
— M O N D E (@Monde_Sean) March 5, 2020

In conclusion, just give us an edit button you cowards!