Twitter is debuting a change to how its timeline works that will include more “best” Tweets at the top of users’ feeds. The idea is similar to the “while you were away” function that Twitter added to the service last year, but it includes a broader array of Tweets displayed in reverse chronological order.
Twitter is making use of algorithms to impart the change, which is aimed at making the service more appealing. The idea is to let heavy users who follow lots of people see what they may have missed from their favorite accounts since they last used the app.
“Our goal was to refine the product and make it absolutely delightful for our core users — the people for which Twitter plays a great role in their life — and if we’re able to make it even more powerful for them they become our microphone,” said Jeff Seibert, Twitter’s head of consumer product.
The revised timelines will show a dozen or so “best” Tweets to users when they first open the app, which is more than the five Tweets it shows via the “while you were away” tool. The changed timeline is opt-in for now, and users who scroll down far enough will encounter their regular timeline.
