The estimated reading time for this post is 4 minutes
When you go on Twitter, what do you want to see first in your timeline? The most recent tweets from people you follow or tweets Twitter that thinks are important to you?
Now you can choose which tweets you want to see first.
In 2016, Twitter changed its timeline format, showing users tweets it thinks will interest them most. When you open the Twitter app or go on to the Twitter website you see tweets on your timeline that Twitter regards as important.
Twitter announced this change to timelines in a blog post in 2016: Never miss important Tweets from people you follow.
These first tweets that appear on your timeline in the In Case You Missed It section may be ones that are popular — they’ve been re-tweeted or favorited by many. But they may or may not be sent by people you follow on Twitter.
The tweets you see in the In Case You Missed It section may be older, or downright ancient by Twitter standards, perhaps hours or even a day old. The news shared in these tweets may already be irrelevant but because so many folks engaged with these tweets, Twitter gives them priority.
You may yearn for the pre-2016 days when your Twitter timeline appeared in chronological order. When the tweets you saw in your timeline were from people you actually followed and cared about what they had to say.
If you miss those “good old days” of Twitter, you’re not alone. In fact, Twitter must feel your pain because it announced earlier this week that it will allow users to choose which view of tweets they want to see in their timelines.
In a series of tweets, Twitter announced that it has updated its settings to allow its users to choose between turning Show Best Tweets First on or off.
1/ We’re working on new ways to give you more control over your timeline. But first, some context: Twitter helps you see what’s happening by showing the best Tweets for you based on your interactions.https://t.co/H5nuhQy3r2
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 17, 2018
With Show the Best Tweets First turned on, you will see the In Case You Missed It section in your timeline, filled with popular tweets that may be a bit older. This is probably the setting you have turned on now.
With Show the Best Tweets First turned off, you’ll see tweets from people you follow with the most recent tweets showing first. Only tweets from people you follow will appear, and they will be shown in reverse chronological order.
Previously, even with this setting turned off you would still see the In Case You Missed It section. Now you won’t.
Twitter says that it plans to make turning off Show Best Tweets First even easier with a switch that it will begin testing soon.
Don’t Miss => Twitter Considers New Features to Encourage Conversation
Update: Twitter has begun testing this feature with a small group of users on the Twitter iOS app:
Sometimes you want to see the latest Tweets, first. We’re testing a way for you to make it easier to switch your timeline between the latest and top Tweets. Starting today, a small number of you will see this test on iOS. pic.twitter.com/7NHLDUjrIv
— Twitter (@Twitter) October 31, 2018
How to Turn Off “Show the Best Tweets First” in Settings
You can turn off “Show the best Tweets first” in settings. Try this setting to see whether your Twitter timeline becomes more relevant for you.
If you don’t like this format, you can always go back into settings to go back to turn on “Show the best Tweets first.”
Twitter Website
To turn off “Show the best Tweets first” on the Twitter website, click on your profile photo. A drop-down menu will appear. Choose Settings and privacy.
Then look for Show the best Tweets first in the Content section. Uncheck the box, then click Save Changes.
Click Home to see your new timeline format, in reverse chronological order with the most recent tweets from people you follow first.
Twitter App
To turn off “Show the best Tweets first” on the Twitter app, tap your profile image, then Settings and privacy. Tap Content preferences, then turn off the switch for “Show the best Tweets first.”
Poll
How do you like to see tweets on your Twitter timeline? Vote in The Wonder of Tech poll:
Your Thoughts
Do you prefer to see the best Tweets first or do you like to see the most recent tweets from people you follow first? Do you agree with which tweets Twitter considers the Best? Do you like that Twitter will make it easier to turn this setting?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
*Twitter logo image (edited) courtesy of geralt via Pixabay and Creative Commons
Hi Carolyn,
I believe it is a welcome change. I like to see tweets which are popular. I like to see the kind of reaction it is getting.
Thanks for sharing, have a good day. 🙂
Hi Tarique, You’re absolutely right, by seeing the most popular tweets first you can see how others have reacted to tweets. By seeing most recent tweets first you won’t know how these tweets will be received by others.
I hope you continue to enjoy seeing the most popular tweets first, Tarique.
Hi Carolyn
Thanks for the tip. I was not aware of that. I always think it is positive when users have the option to adjust a setting like this themselves. I hate when the big software companies try to dictate settings that I have not asked for and try to tell me what is best. Give the user the possibility to choose. That is just my opinion on this thing.
Hi Thomas, Good point. Everyone wins when social media services give users more control over their accounts. You’re right, we should be able to decide what we like best and adjust our settings accordingly.
I hope you enjoy the new settings in Twitter, Thomas.
Hi Carolyn,
I like that we have a choice now 🙂
I don’t use it much as I use Lists on Twitter most of the time. My main feed is too busy and crazy so I have many lists to keep me organized there.
But it’s nice to know they listened to their users and made this change! Thanks for sharing about it.
Hi Lisa, Good point, with Twitter Lists you can gain even more control over what you see first on Twitter. Way to make the most of Twitter, Lisa (as you always do!).