Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey puts rumours of algorithm-based display of tweets to rest

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has clarified that the social media website’s stream of tweets will stay live and in real time, refuting reports that Twitter was intended to change how it displayed users’ tweets by using an algorithm to prioritise tweets, much like Facebook.Buzzfeed had originally reported this, citing undisclosed sources. The report was updated with Dorsey’s statement.The response to the news on Twitter was overwhelmingly negative, with the hashtag #RIPTwitter suggesting many users of the micro-blogging site believe the changes would mean the death of the company.

Many users were upset that tweets from accounts with fewer followers could possibly be suppressed under the new system. Others complained that the changes would make Twitter too much like Facebook, which arranges content through the use of an algorithm.“Dear Twitter, don’t try to be like Facebook, we don’t like Facebook #RIPTwitter,” tweeted ana (@dearcalumthood) on Saturday.“Clearly the motto ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ is something @twitter isn’t familiar with #RIPTwitter,” tweeted EldestSalvatore (@EldestDamon) on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Twitter declined to comment.Twitter has come under increasing pressure to boost user growth, as it struggles to attain advertising revenues equaling those of its larger Facebook rival.Last month, Twitter came under fire when it announced a new feature that would allow users to post tweets up to 10,000 characters long, up from its previous limit of 140 characters.