Twitter has announced that it has begun testing notes, a method for writing and posting long-form content across the social media platform.
Currently, a small group of writers in the US, Canada, Ghana and the UK can access the feedback feature as part of the initial testing phase.
Twitter says notes can be read both on and off Twitter for people in most countries. Users who are part of the testing phase have access to a new writing tab, where they can write and access all notes.
These users also have a new notes tab in the account that holds the posted work to make it easier for followers to find longer content.
With the new feature, users are able to create articles using rich formatting and uploaded media, which can then be Tweeted and shared with followers when they post.
Users also have the option to include photos, videos, GIFs, and tweets in notes.
Similar to tweets, notes have their own link. They can be Tweeted, Retweeted, sent in a direct message, liked and bookmarked.
And feedback has the potential to change how some people use the platform to share their deeper thoughts.
The new feature can be especially useful for those users who often post article-length content and don’t want to go through the hassle of setting up and maintaining a blog or website.
It’s also worth noting that the feature marks one of the most significant changes across Twitter since doubling the character count from 140 to 280.
Twitter is testing a long text feature called Notes
The new feature facilitates situations where threads are difficult to follow by allowing users to put all text in a note.
Notes are also useful when a tweeter resorts to posting screenshots of the Notes app in order to Tweet a large portion of the text.
Twitter’s introduction of the notes feature may pose some competition with long-form blogging platforms, such as WordPress or Medium, developed by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.
And if Twitter decides to integrate newsletters into notes, the feature will likely compete with popular platforms like Substack.
Twitter also announced the launch of a new Write Team focused on building tools for readers. The company incorporates newsletter subscriptions into Write. Write is the brand you now use to include your long-running writing efforts, including notes and newsletters.
The Write team is focused on improving the Twitter experience for writers. The social media giant notes that its definition of the book includes journalists, bloggers and newsletter publishers. As well as comedians, content creators, social media community managers, poets, screenwriters, and more.
