Twitter’s expiring tweet function, Fleets, is launching globally today, giving users a new way to post content on the social media platform.
The feature is basically Instagram Stories. Content you post to Fleets—which will appear as a special bar over the Twitter timeline—will only last for 24 hours before it’s deleted. The company is hoping you’ll share your fleeting thoughts, hence the name Fleets. However, the real goal is to make people feel less self-conscious about what they post over the platform.
“Over the last year, we’ve been working to understand and address the anxieties that hold people back from tweeting,” wrote Kayvon Beykpour, Twitter’s product lead.
The company’s solution has been to create Fleets as its own special section. Any content you post in Fleets such as text, photos, or someone else’s tweets, can only be viewed—not retweeted, liked, or publicly replied to. As a result, the company is marketing the function as a “low pressure” way to partake in social media.
“Now, more than ever, we think it’s critical to provide people another way to share what’s on their mind; without feeling self-conscious about it lasting on the record, and without the pressure of public replies,” Beykpour added. “Those Tweets that never got past ‘Drafts’ can finally see the light!”
Twitter began testing the feature in Brazil in March. Since then, the company expanded the trial to other countries including Italy, India, and South Korea, and found the Fleets function does indeed help people feel more comfortable talking on the social media platform.
“Those new to Twitter found Fleets to be an easier way to share what's on their mind. Because they disappear from view after a day, Fleets helped people feel more comfortable sharing personal and casual thoughts, opinions, and feelings,” wrote Twitter Design Director Joshua Harris and Product Manager Sam Haveson.
On the flip side, content shared on Fleets isn’t suited for going viral. Instead, your followers will have to seek out the content by going to the Fleets section at the top of their Twitter feeds. “Anyone who can see your full profile can see your Fleets there too,” the company added. Like Instagram, the people you follow will also know when you view their Fleets.
Twitter plans on rolling out the new feature to everyone globally in the coming days over iOS and Android. When it’ll arrive on desktop remains unclear.