According to an image published by one Twitter user, the service is testing a feature that would let anyone following a person to send them a direct message. October 15, 2013 8:09 AM PDT It might soon be easier for Twitter users to send direct messages. Marketing professional Jim Connolly on Tuesday released an image of what he says, is a new Twitter feature that will allow users to send direct messages to anyone they follow. The feature does not appear to be widely available and its default setting is off, but it could mark a dramatic shift in communication on the social network. Related stories Twitter's Jack Dorsey confesses that 'maybe' he wanted to 'screw' over co-founder Twitter prepping to sell ads in others' apps, report says Rupert Murdoch calls for Google to be 'exposed' Why Twitter's most important asset is at risk Twitter to Dick Costolo in 2010: You're fired...sort of Twitter's Direct Messages feature is locked down quite heavily. In order to send someone a direct message, the recipient must be following the sender. If the feature Connolly discovered is adopted, the would-be recipient can determine whether he or she would want to allow followers to send direct messages. If the feature is toggled on, the recipient wouldn't need to follow the sender to receive direct messages. Twitter's current implementation was designed to reduce spam and help users receive only messages from people they want to hear from on a given topic. The new feature would make the service a bit more open for communication, but whether it could become a nuisance is something users would need to keep an eye on. CNET has contacted Twitter for comment on Connolly's find. We will update this story when we have more information. (Via Pocket-lint)
According to an image published by one Twitter user, the service is testing a feature that would let anyone following a person to send them a direct message.
It might soon be easier for Twitter users to send direct messages.
Marketing professional Jim Connolly on Tuesday released an image of what he says, is a new Twitter feature that will allow users to send direct messages to anyone they follow. The feature does not appear to be widely available and its default setting is off, but it could mark a dramatic shift in communication on the social network.
Related stories
- Twitter's Jack Dorsey confesses that 'maybe' he wanted to 'screw' over co-founder
- Twitter prepping to sell ads in others' apps, report says
- Rupert Murdoch calls for Google to be 'exposed'
- Why Twitter's most important asset is at risk
- Twitter to Dick Costolo in 2010: You're fired...sort of
Twitter's Direct Messages feature is locked down quite heavily. In order to send someone a direct message, the recipient must be following the sender. If the feature Connolly discovered is adopted, the would-be recipient can determine whether he or she would want to allow followers to send direct messages. If the feature is toggled on, the recipient wouldn't need to follow the sender to receive direct messages.
Twitter's current implementation was designed to reduce spam and help users receive only messages from people they want to hear from on a given topic. The new feature would make the service a bit more open for communication, but whether it could become a nuisance is something users would need to keep an eye on.
CNET has contacted Twitter for comment on Connolly's find. We will update this story when we have more information.
(Via Pocket-lint)
