I kinda want a threads-first version of twitter. Imagine if you could just write a long thread in the standard compose window, and it would break on sentences automatically to keep it under 280 characters. And in the feed threads could have a length indicator and inline expand.

You’d still have everything broken into tweet-sized pieces that can be QT’d and replied, so the graph shape wouldn’t change. But optimizing the ergonomics for longer form would push it in that direction.

I’m particularly interested in how it would impact replies, if making a longer reply that is itself a thread would create more of a “exchange of letters” dynamic. Some way to allow a reply-thread to easily quote individual posts from the parent thread would be cool.

I doubt Twitter will pursue this bc it’s not the kind of thing that moves numbers immediately. Instead it’s the kind of thing that takes months or years, but shapes the culture of the platform in important ways. Twitter is plenty addictive and self-distributing already!

Similarly: a “small” for you feed, which emphasizes less popular accounts and less popular posts that nonetheless you might like. Or a “near” for you feed which focuses on mutuals and features replies as much as top level posts.

There is nothing wrong with the Hottest and Best and Most Viral Content. Nothing wrong with with funny videos. But it’s not a good default information diet.