Elon Musk's Twitter is finally getting the message.
The microblogging platform recently walked back its "For You" algorithmic timeline after two weeks and public backlash against its implementation on all platforms, though there is a catch.
Twitter previously made its "For You" algorithmic timeline default for iOS users in mid-January, much to the public's disapproval and anger.
Twitter Rolls Back The 'For You' Timeline
Were any of you (all of you) asking for your timeline to default to where you left it last?
Starting today on web, if you close Twitter on the “For you” or “Following” tabs, you will return to whichever timeline you had open last. iOS and Android coming soon! https://t.co/uKz9DpNRux— Support (@Support) January 24, 2023
Twitter's support account recently tweeted that it is updating its web and mobile apps to default to the timeline tab you last opened before closing the platform.
This change means that while the "For You" tab still exists on Twitter's website and mobile apps, it will no longer be the default timeline for most, if not all, its users since they now have a way to hide the platform's algorithmic timeline.
This change also brings back the convenience of following time-sensitive events without switching back and forth between the algorithmic timeline and the more preferred chronological timeline.
Unfortunately, there is a catch: Twitter mentioned it is implementing this change on its web version first, while its mobile app for iOS and Android would have to wait for it to come sometime soon.
Additionally, the old "twinkle" or "sparkle" button won't be returning any time soon, per Engadget.
See the Tweets you want to see. Starting today on iOS, swipe between tabs to see Tweets recommended “For you” or Tweets from the accounts you’re “Following.”
— Support (@Support) January 11, 2023
Twitter's "For You" algorithmic timeline may be part of its efforts to compete against TikTok, with the feature having similarities with TikTok's "Home" tab.
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Unfortunately, many of Twitter's users did not take the news well. The comments section of the tweet the company used to announce the change was bombarded with questions about the company adding an option to hide its "for You" timeline or remove it altogether.
More unfortunate is that Musk's Twitter repeated the same mistake the old Twitter made in 2016. You may remember that Twitter previously tried implementing this scheme on Feb. 10, 2016, to battle Instagram's supremacy over the social media market.
Much like the recent attempt, Twitter users were not happy with the changes the company made, with them criticizing it and petitioning Twitter to bring its traditional chronological timeline back.
Twitter eventually conceded and brought back its chronological timeline, saying that its goal with the algorithmic timeline is to find a balance between the most recent tweets and the best tweets they'll likely care about in their timeline.
Twitter User Reception To The News
Great, now just put the "For you" and "Following" options back up the uppermost bart, perhaps under some sort of star button that doesn't take up any extra space because people won't ever need to click.
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) January 24, 2023
So yea, just fully revert to the way it was before you screwed with it.
Twitter users are grateful for the change, with many of them extending words of gratitude to the company.
However, not everyone is content with the change. Many, like @g-slowen758 and @AirlineFlyer, are asking Twitter to either bring back the "Sparkle" button and place the "For You" and Following" tabs in there or remove the "For You" Tab entirely.
Many are still dismayed with Twitter for changing the tabs in the first place, with @SomeGuyTyping saying that Twitter shouldn't act like it is giving its users something since it only fixed what it broke earlier this month.
Related Article: Twitter Makes Its 'For You' Timeline Default for iOS Users
