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In A Shock Move, Twitter Adds An Edit Button To Tweets
The social media giant has finally backtracked after years of pressure and will first roll out the new Edit Tweet feature to premium subscribers.
It’s taken years of complaints and thousands of desperate pleas from a vocal portion of Twitter’s 237 million active users, but now, the social media giant has finally caved under pressure. After nearly 16 years of sticking to a tried and tested format, Twitter will finally allow users to edit Tweets after posting them.
If it were any other platform, adding such a tiny, seemingly inconsequential feature would largely go unnoticed. Yet, because we’re talking about Twitter here, the move represents one of the most significant changes to the social media landscape since the company doubled the character limit of posts from 140 to 280 way back in 2017.
Many would argue that the lengthier Tweets and new addition of an edit button will change the platform into something it was never meant to be. Certainly, the entire atmosphere of the site will (and already has) changed since its niche beginnings — though it’s always been a place for spicy takes and online brawls.
So why the sudden change of direction? Here’s what the company had to say about the controversial matter:
“We’re hoping that with the availability of Edit Tweet, tweeting will feel more approachable and less stressful. You should be able to participate in the conversation in a way that makes sense to you,” says Twitter in an official statement.
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We should mention at this point that not everyone will be granted access to this mythical new feature. Employees will first test the edit button; then, it will be added to the accounts of Twitter Blue subscribers. Eventually, Twitter plans to roll out the Edit Tweet feature to its entire user base, though we don’t have any formal word on a date for that.
Users will be allowed to edit Tweets within a 30-minute window of posting, and any changes will trigger a label to be displayed, notifying readers that a change has been made. If the label is clicked, you’ll be able to see a list of edits, so the new feature won’t entirely save you from embarrassing spelling mistakes or attempts to tone down poorly judged online rants.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.