Content Marketers React to Twitter’s 280-Character Limit

Last week, Twitter announced it will now allow the majority of users the ability to tweet up to 280-characters. The platform’s decision to increase its character limit has given users an opportunity to express themselves more than ever before. And boy, did they ever.

Our community had mixed reactions.

Some marketers were excited about the idea of not having to edit content to meet the original 140-character limit.

I’m a fan of the increase, but I don’t want #marketers to forget that simple and concise content is still the ideal format for engaging users on the Twitter platform.

— Hutton Jackson (@HuttonJackson) November 8, 2017

It’s amazing, to me, how short 140 always felt, and how unbelievably too much #280characters seem to be, though I do like the extra room for poems and #haiku. #CMWorld

My Dear Twitter Friend You’ve Grown to be Two-Eight-Oh Jury is still out — Jeff Reno(e) 🤘🎙🤘 (@Renoe) November 8, 2017

It is a good idea. Although it may result in hashtag stuffing.

— Yogesh Jain (@mrjainyogesh) November 8, 2017

It’s about time! So often I’ve had to change or shrink the meaning of what I’m saying because 140 wasn’t quite enough.

— Joe Pairman (@joepairman) November 8, 2017

We humans do not like change, but we are also adaptable. Simplicity and brevity are always good, but sometimes I felt that I needed more space to complete my toughts. Therefore, I think this is a good change and eventually people will get use it. #280characters

— Martin Moncayo (@m_moncayo17) November 8, 2017

I’ve always struggled to get my messages across, especially when including tags and relevant usernames when replying or mentioning a specific user. The new limit makes that sooooooo much easier! 😉

— Hestie BG (@HestieBG) November 10, 2017

While other marketers thought 280 characters are just too much.

I would’ve liked the character limit to stay at 140. I felt the limit was an act of advocacy for brevity in #communications.

— Jared Haube (@JaredHaube) November 8, 2017

I’m sure I could write a lot in #280characters, but then again, I could with 140 as well. It’s going to take some time getting used to. Of course, there’s going to be some saying that it’s still not enough.

— Vladimir Covic (@v1covic) November 8, 2017

A 200 character limit would’ve been a better compromise. I actually liked the challenge of being more concise w/in 1 tweet/message! I think I’ll continue. #CMWorld #280characters

— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) November 8, 2017

I Feel like I am writing a book https://t.co/tnU4Ba8ohr

— … (@AxelAxel2018) November 8, 2017

The more we write, the less we read #280charcters

— Dan Goldberg (@Jonas419) November 8, 2017

Haven’t needed 140+ for most ideas. Loved the brevity. #CMWorld #AllWeWantedWasAnEditButton

— Carole Cudnik (@cacudnik) November 8, 2017

Yeah, TOO much…that’s not what Twitter’s about. I appreciated the brevity. Expressing yourself in 140 characters is an art! (-:

— Michelle Garrett (@PRisUs) November 8, 2017

👎 for most things. But as a #localgov there are times when the extra characters will be useful.

If @twitter really wanted to win my ❤️ they would have given me an #EditButton — Shannah Hayley (@shannahhayley) November 8, 2017

Where is the challenge?! Being concise used to mean something… ya know?

— Stephanie S. Lee (@SSansoucyLee) November 8, 2017

It gives you twice as many characters to be irrelevant and lose your readers.

— Jim Samuel (@jwsamuel) November 8, 2017

While other community members saw lessons to be learned from the change.

Verbosity is sometimes necessary. Brevity is better. Balance, we must.

— Cruce Saunders (@mrcruce) November 8, 2017

Seems like they lost the one thing that made them, them. The 140 characters forced short, digestible messages and pushed for creative solutions for tweets. Whether good or bad the change seems like a push to be in the news.

— Andrew Walters (@WaltersContent) November 8, 2017

We tweeted out yesterday as a #PSA to encourage people to use this opportunity to do more storytelling not more selling 😉

— Digital Radar (@Digital_Radar) November 8, 2017

Twitter says it’s to make it “easier and faster for everyone to express themselves.” That’s an in-the-moment focus. Brands should take time to craft their messages.

— Jill Golden (@_goldengrams) November 8, 2017

In most things, less is more. That said, better engagemt occurs when you use 100-110 chars vs. 140. Thus, it would be 199-218 vs. 280. Enabling editing for Twitter would have been a much better feature. And, doesn’t #280characters defeat the orig purpose of Twitter’s brand?

— Sue Duris (@SueDuris) November 8, 2017

let’s keep things short, clear and simple. we all have the power to unfollow abusers.

— Francisco Garcia (@francixcoG) November 8, 2017

Community members are also voicing their opinions outside of Twitter as well. CMI follower Maria Marchewka wrote shared her thoughts here. What do you think about the newly expanded character count? Let us know in the comments below.