Twitter is expanding its 140 character limit to 10,000 in an attempt to further compete with Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, in a race to be THE PLATFORM for content and connectivity. Re/Code and other media report that there’s no public timeframe for when Twitter will expand the character limit.
It’s GREAT that me, you and millions of others can now Tweet more stuff. It’s great that we can expand from “micro blogging” with 140 characters to “full blogging” with thousands more characters.
However, here’s what’s not so great.
Having a LIMIT on what you can write in Twitter has forced all of us to THINK and be better writers. Snap Chat and Instagram’s SHORT videos force us all to be brief and succinct and be focused on our message.
Snap Chat and Instagram’s SHORT videos force us all to be brief and succinct and be focused on our message.
140 character limit stimulates our creative writing. We think in “hash tags” sound bites.If you only have 140 characters then you need to really be creative about how you’re going to deliver your message.
If you only have 140 characters then you need to really be creative about how you’re going to deliver your message.
So, when you get the chance to write 10,000 characters on Twitter, force yourself to THINK like 140 characters and you’re writing will be better.
There’s room for long form writing, of course. But there’s also a beauty in short writing that has a strong message. Seth Godin does both of these quite well.
