Twitter shortens tweets by two characters

[Jazzy]

Twitter has forced its members to be even more succinct than before, with changes to the way it deals with web links that mean they will get two fewer characters in which to express themselves.



Previously, including a web link cut the number of characters available in each tweet from the full 140 to 120. Now when Twitter members want to share a URL there are only 118 left in which to add commentary.



If the website being linked to uses the more secure “https” protocol, there are now only 117 characters, where previously there were 119.



The change was announced to web developers in December but has been implemented today.



When members post a link, Twitter automatically “wraps” it in another link beginning t.co, even when another URL-shortening service such as bit.ly is used. The firm says this process allows it to protect the service from malicious websites that might spread computer viruses and track the most popular links being shared.



When Twitter introduced t.co, some developers complained it was taking up more space than it needed to and hijacked other URL shorteners.



The move is part of Twitter's plans to grow its advertising business by assumiing more control over content posted by members.

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Just wondering if any of you care that you're now getting two less characters.

 

[Evil Eye]

I don't use Twitter, but would it really be much of a big deal to split a post into two posts for longer messages?

Very clever of them to use their own URL shortener, really.

 

[Flurry]

I use it sometimes. Don't really care for the shortenedness though.

 

[Geoffrey]

Not really a big deal. You aren't meant to write a book in a tweet anyways, go to Facebook or a FORUM if you want to do that. And if you're posting a link, you should have most of your information on the external site and you just need a headline/title in the tweet. That should not be over 117 characters anyways.