Twitter Brushes Off #RIPTwitter, Announces An Algorithmic Timeline

Rumors surfaced last week that Twitter Inc (NYSE: TWTR) would implement an algorithmic timeline within its platform as soon as this week.

"The timeline will reorder tweets based on what Twitter's algorithm thinks people most want to see, a departure from the current feed's reverse chronological order," Buzzfeed reported on February 5. "It is unclear whether Twitter will force users to use the algorithmic feed, or it will merely be an option."

As the rumor of a timeline spread, the hashtag #RIPTwitter began trending as users worried that Twitter's "always live" characteristic could be in jeopardy.

On Wednesday, Twitter confirmed in a blog post that it will implement such a timeline. However, when Twitter's Senior Engineering Manager Mike Jahr explained how to use the feature, he indicated a user needs to "flip on the feature" for it to be implemented.

Investors and traders appear to have found Twitter's announcement to be bullish as shares were trading higher by more than 4 percent at $15.04 within an hour of trading on Wednesday.

Tweets you missed from people you follow, recapped in reverse chron! Refresh back to live. Flip it on to try it now! https://t.co/8QxRDbgyKv

— Jack (@jack) February 10, 2016

"After being away for a while, the Tweets you're most likely to care about will appear at the top of your timeline – still recent and in reverse chronological order," Jahr explained. "The rest of the Tweets will be displayed right underneath, also in reverse chronological order, as always. At any point, just pull-to-refresh to see all new Tweets at the top in the live, up-to-the-second experience you already know and love."

Image Credit: Public Domain