Twitter is reportedly exploring a new way to send Direct Messages (DMs) on iOS. This test involved a limited number of users and let them send direct messages (DMs) directly from tweets on the timeline.
There will be a letter icon below the user's tweet. This means, users do not need to open a profile to send a DM. Twitter says the new feature will make it easier for users with DMs that appear on their timeline to start a conversation.
However, it turned out that this feature received rejection from netizens, one of which was Twitter user Eliza Orlins who didn't like it, as reported by us from The Verge.
He argued that DM features and shortcuts via tweets could trigger harassment. According to him, users can share their thoughts via private messages without having to leave the timeline.
It's hard to see who exactly could benefit from this feature. Close friends may want a quick way to DM each other, but most people are comfortable visiting a friend's Twitter profile to message them or simply continue an existing conversation from their inbox.
Giving users a shortcut to someone's private messages can create new problems. Twitter already knows that malicious DMs can be a problem, which is why they launched a feature in 2019 that automatically filters out abusive DMs.
In 2020, Twitter launched Messenger-style pop-up tabs on the web in 2020 which is considered better and useful, unlike this new DM feature which doesn't really give users a shortcut to send DMs in direct response to a tweet but allows users choose from existing conversations.
If this new DM button goes out of testing phase, it's unclear whether there will be an option for users to disable the feature for security and privacy reasons.
Twitter spokeswoman Charlotte Catania said this particular experiment did not change anyone's DM settings. "We're always looking for ways to make DMs more accessible and valuable to people on Twitter and they will always be in control. Anyone has the ability to close their DMs in their settings," said Catania.