Twitter Looks to Let Users Hide Replies to Their Tweets

Twitter is testing an interesting new feature that will allow users to hide replies to their tweets. The new Hide Tweet feature was first discovered by Jane Manchun Wong, who stated that the new feature would also allow users to view hidden replies under tweets.

A senior program manager at Twitter then explained the company’s plans about the new Hide Tweet feature, stating that the feature is still under development.

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The hide tweet feature would allow you to hide any reply to your tweets, but Twitter would give users an option to view hidden replies. So even if you do hide a certain tweet, others would be able to view the hidden replies through the View Hidden Tweets option.

And even though that might be useful for hiding abuse and similar tweets, it also opens up an opportunity for people to silence their critics, for example. On a platform like Twitter, that is a massive problem. You can, obviously, view the hidden tweets — but most Twitter users are likely not even going to be aware of the option, or even be bothered to manually view the hidden tweets. So even though this feature sounds really useful, it ultimately may not be the best idea.

“We think the transparency of the hidden replies would allow the community to notice and call out situations where people use the feature to hide content they disagree with. We think this can balance the product experience between the original Tweeter and the audience,” a Senior PM at Twitter said, explaining the situation.

Instagram offers a similar feature where you can completely remove comments under your posts, by the way.

The feature is obviously still under development, and I think Twitter really needs to surface the fact that someone has hidden tweets within the Replies section under tweets for it to be completely transparent. Else, it’s unlikely most users would even bother to manually view hidden tweets, or even be aware when someone has hidden replies to their tweets.

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Conversation 6 comments

  • lwetzel

    Premium Member
    01 March, 2019 - 10:25 am

    <p>Don't have to hide replies to tweets if you don't post the tweet. Many should heed that.</p>

  • Hoomgar

    01 March, 2019 - 11:00 am

    <p>I admit there are replies on many iNet based forums/blogs/articles/posts/etc that I would love to just erase at times.&nbsp; In reality though, I personally feel if you are posting something in a public space for all to read then all should be allowed to post their two cents.&nbsp; Regardless if it is beneficial or not.&nbsp; For me, If I&nbsp;am truly bothered by something that someone posts I simply deal with it or if warranted block that user.&nbsp; The post can stay.&nbsp; Let everyone see what is being said because once again, it's a public conversation.</p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    01 March, 2019 - 12:06 pm

    <p>Comments on the internet, regardless of the platform, should be made in a manner that is devoid of being derogatory, where more often than not, the apparent anonymity of the internet affords the keyboard warrior the comfort to belittle and hurl abuse to those people who appear to be "different" (ethnic minorities, the physically/mentally disabled, those who align themselves as part of the LGBTQIA+ community), men behaving badly with misogynistic undertones, and castigating those who are constantly under public scrutiny (e.g. parliamentarians, congress (wo)men and other dignitaries, leaders of companies, etc.).</p><p><br></p><p>Equally, the internet should not be a haven or resource for inappropriate and indecent (i.e., corrupt and illegal) material, of which Google shall gladly signpost the direction of the offending material, let alone what lies within the dark web.</p><p><br></p><p>Seemingly innocuous scantily clad women of all ages posting their photos on Instagratification, and "bikini hauls" of young women performing in their video testimonials on YouLube courtesy of the skimpy garments from the sponsored clothing companies, does not aid in containing the testosteronic male in maintaining his posture of calmness and dignity.</p><p><br></p><p>And that's without having mentioned about the elephant in the room – pornography, in all its guises.</p><p><br></p><p>Whether it's a 280-word limited Tweet, or a photo or video upload, it ought to be dignified so as not to displease one's Mother, should she be the ultimate arbiter of the decency of the posted content.</p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps I'm dreaming of a Utopian internet that is free of, vice, hate speech, provocative language, incitement to harassment, and that which borders it, but the ills of the human condition are without doubt <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">grossly amplified on</span> the internet.</p><p><br></p><p>Each any every responsible platform needs to police the content of their users, and merely hiding an offending Tweet does nothing to control the petabytes of garbage already hosted in the cloud. But at the outset these platforms, particularly the tech behemoths, need to recognise they are indeed both content hosters and providers, obligating them to efficiently and effectively scrutinise the content posted on their platform, without being apologetic for dismissing inappropriate matter.</p><p><br></p><p>Irrevocable deletion is the only solution, and surely with AI and smart algorithms, copies of the offending material can be located and wiped too, such that the oft-quoted phrase of 'whatever is uploaded/posted on the net, stays on net' should no longer hold true.</p><p><br></p><p>Regardless of what the liberals amongst us advocate, freedom of speech in its purest form does not exist, and nor should it, but rather a dialogue should be entered into between factions that express differing viewpoints, rather than slamming each other with profanity and other malign forms of abuse.</p><p><br></p><p>We all have two ears and one tongue; we ought to use them in that proportion, but all too often we love to engage in a written or verbal diatribe, without barely listening to the on-going debate.</p>

    • Greg Green

      02 March, 2019 - 3:49 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#408260">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>‘Comments on the internet, regardless of the platform, should be made in a manner that is devoid of being derogatory’</p><p><br></p><p>Seriously?! You wrote this?! Please remember this next time there’s an Apple story or a story critical of MS.</p>

      • locust infested orchard inc

        04 March, 2019 - 2:02 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#408518">In reply to Greg Green:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>It is unfortunate Apple over the previous decade has pursued business decisions that violate both ethical and moral standards, and it is for this very reason that I persist is my scathing attack against the Cupertino company.</p><p><br></p><p>Apple has given me ample opportunity to give a historical account of their flagrant violations, whereupon I have described in considerable detail, their belligerent behaviour, sourcing information directly from reputable and well-regarded news outlets and referencing these sources.</p><p><br></p><p>On at least two occasions here at Thurrott.com, I have commented in depth regarding Apple, so I shall not repeat myself yet again, though I shall endeavour to locate the aforementioned comments and link them here for you to peruse at your leisure.</p><p><br></p><p>There is contrasting difference between fanboism who are emotionally attached to their cherished company's products whilst attacking competitor's products simply for shit 'n' giggles. I however, scold the business practices of Apple for wholly justifiably reasons.</p>

  • skane2600

    01 March, 2019 - 11:48 pm

    <p>Given the fact that a significant number of people on social networks feel they should be able to post anything they choose regardless of its controversial nature without anyone being "rude" enough to question them, this could be a popular feature. Of course, it would be more popular if there wasn't a work-around.</p><p><br></p><p>People don't know or forget that they can setup more private groups were they can preach to the choir in echo-chamber harmony.</p>

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