On 1 September 2022, Twitter began testing a new editing button that lets users edit their original tweets. The new feature allows Twitter users to edit their tweets a few times within the initial 30 minutes once they are posted.
According to a blog post on Twitter's official website, ‘Edited Tweets’ will have a label, icon, and timestamp to show other users that the original tweet has been changed. The blog post explained that users can "tap the label to view the Tweet's Edit History, which includes previous versions of the Tweet."
For the company, the time limit and version history play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the conversation and producing a record of what was said that is accessible to the general public.
Editing Button, Still Under the Testing Process
According to Twitter, the company is intentionally testing its new ‘Edit Tweet’ tool with a smaller group to help incorporate feedback while identifying and resolving potential issues, including the misuse of the feature.
Later this month, Twitter will expand ‘Edit Tweet’ access to its paid Twitter Blue service. As part of their subscription, the users receive early access to features and help us test them before they come to Twitter.
CNN business reported that the test would first roll out to Twitter Blue subscribers in New Zealand, with Australia, Canada, and the U.S. to follow. However, users outside the test group could also see edited tweets on the platform.
The test will be first localized to a single country and expanded following people’s use of the tool. Twitter also said it is paying close attention to how the feature impacts how people read, write, and engage with Tweets.
The Washington Post reported that when, or if, the new feature will be extended to the rest of Twitter’s 230 million users is uncertain.
In April, the company announced that it was testing an edit feature that would be available to Blue subscribers within months and would be available for a year. On the same day, Twitter announced Elon Musk would join its board of directors after polling his followers about a platform edit button. CNN reported that Twitter responded, "no, we did not get the idea from a poll."
Many Twitter users have previously urged the company to create an edit button, similar to those found on other platforms. Others expressed concern about the new Tweet Edit, asking, "What if a harmless tweet went viral and was then edited to include harassment or misinformation, increasing the reach of a tweet that might otherwise not have spread?"
Can Edited Tweets Spread Misinformation?
Social media experts have already raised concerns about the effectiveness of allowing Twitter users to edit their publications, as well as the possibility of misuse and malicious actors changing the message within viral tweets.
A Twitter spokesperson told the Grid website that edited tweets could be reported as usual. "If found to be in violation, the entire Tweet will be removed, including the original Tweet and any later versions," the spokesperson stated.
Although Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security and an ethical hacker, acknowledged Twitter's efforts to establish security measures for the edit feature, she believes the negatives will outweigh the benefits.
In an interview with the Washington Post, she stated, “I don’t think we need to add another potential disinformation feature that could be abused ahead of the next election cycle.”
“That is particularly dangerous on Twitter because of the service’s influential audience and fast-moving dynamics, noting that false tweets have been known to move markets within minutes or even seconds.” The Washington Post reported.
According to Gareth O'Sullivan, Director of Client Media at Creation Agency, the edit button may spread misinformation because Twitter posts can go viral in a short period of time.
Although the new edit feature has limitations because tweets that can only be edited for the first 30 minutes will be labeled as changed, the tool has the potential to spread misinformation as a result of tool misuse or cyber-attacks.
Misbar’s Sources
