However, if you use a Twitter client such as TweetDeck, you've now officially been empowered to drone on...and on...and on. In the latest version of TweetDeck (version 0.37), launched this week, the company saw fit to install Deck.ly integration. What that means is that you can tweet beyond that 140 character number and a link will be installed into your tweet directing people to the entire message.
Worse yet, the window in which you tweet just lets you go beyond your 140 character limit without making it obvious that you're a chatty cathy. It used to be that the window and text changed color when you went beyond your character count. Now, with the "upgrade", it just puts a tiny "+" sign on the right where your character count is located. One could, very easily, utilize Deck.ly without really realizing it. Talk about annoying.
Fortunately, the TweetDeck support site is blowing up today with complaints about the new feature. Users, rightfully so, want the option to turn off Deck.ly without having to worry that it will automatically kick in. TweetDeck reps say they've heard us and are working on a solution. I'm not sure if Deck.ly paid Tweetdeck for this integration, but I'm sure there's some deal and maybe that's causing the delay.
Yes, these clients are free, but that doesn't mean users don't have a voice. If you don't want forced Deck.ly integration in your TweetDeck application, you have two options:
- Don't upgrade if you haven't done so already.
- Sound off on the complaint thread HERE.
In the meantime, if you use TweetDeck, beware. You may be annoying your followers with lots of Deck.ly links and be talking way more than you intended.
Now, get back to tweeting and be safe out there.
Heaven help us. One Facebook is MORE than enough!
ReplyDeleteLOL without the character limit you get Facebook...lol....Tweetdeck forgot that Twitter is called MICROblogging...duh!
ReplyDeleteSee, that's exactly what I'm saying. Unless you're really paying attention you could miss this, send your tweet, and irk your followers. I hate those Twitlonger links; they drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteSuffice to say, I'm with you, Rachel. The character limit of Twitter is what makes it appealing. If everyone starts using these services to tweet diatribes instead of brief comments, it destroys the whole concept behind Twitter. But, again, it's about choice. Users like to have choices and not receive mandates from on high.
Thanks for adding to the conversation, Rachel!
I agree with Steve...the only time I used a link for an extended Tweet...is when I am REtweeting something that I just can't shorten and I want to comment on it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I use Tweetdeck and would probably not have noticed for sometime that I am going past the 140 characters...worse yet....if I go past the 140...it would only be by a character or two which would make it annoying to those who read my Adoptable Dog posts which I pride myself on keeping brief and retweetable : )
ReplyDeleteNow for the other crap that I ramble on about? I don't need a link for that.....I like the 140 character boundary : )
Yeah, lots of different Twitter clients out there. It's a very personal decision, much like selecting a smart phone.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the character count, though. Can you imagine if every tweet had a link so that you have to click on it to see the person's complete message? What a nightmare that would be! Makes me shudder just thinking about it.
Glad to see you're in the 140 camp, Steven! Thanks for chiming in.
I haven't used TweetDeck in a while, for me the main objective for using such tools is organization. Hootsuite works for me because I can create tabs of subjects, inside each tab are related private lists. TweetDeck doesn't fulfill that requirement. Seesmic Desktop part fulfills it but there is a delay in updating lists, there have also been problems with Linkedin and YouTube as well. I agree that 140 characters is sufficient otherwise it goes beyond what Twitter was designed to do, I have a lot of accounts I follow and if people cannot stick to to the limit I am less likely to read it. If I think one of my tweets is going to worthy enough to retweet by others I write it as such so that there is room for other people to do so.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am just a control freak, but when I use an application I like to have control over the features., I find it distracting when I have to worry about nit picky details.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard enough to have to try and keep up with all the apps if they are not user friendly.
I use Twitter directly to find older DMs. Specifically, I go to OLD Twitter to do that. I really dislike how DMs work on new Twitter, but that's another rant for another day ;-)
ReplyDeleteI actually like tweetdeck and use it more than going to my twitter webpage. However, I stand up with you on this issue.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are programs out there that people use to extend their tweets. However, those people choose to use them. With the Tweetdeck upgrade, users have no choice. There is no opt-out or disable.
ReplyDeleteBefore, if you wrote more than 140 characters, your tweet wouldn't send. You knew you were saying more than your allotted tweet. However, with the forced Deck.ly integration, you can naively go over and force your users to click a link to see the rest of your thought.
Sure, there's that number on the right and I can watch it like a hawk to ensure I'm within the 140 characters, but why make extra work for the user? Upgrades are suppose to make my life easier, not harder. But, hey, that's just me ;-)
Thanks for the counterpoint, Cheri!
Don't be silly. No worries, Lisa. I know it's you ;-)
ReplyDeletesorry about signin I am using a different browser Amber. Today has not been a good day...LOL
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a few years back (don't remember how many years, as I am older and a couple of strokes later) but microsoft pulled a stunt with including a browser and it ticked a few of us off. I think the browser was netscape.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that is what this reminds me of.
Miss Amber usually I am the first person to cheer you on for a cause but this one isn't such a big deal. With apps already out there like Tweetlonger and Twit~something-or-another people are going over 140 characters all of the time when they want to. With Deck.ly I also see fairly decent size numbers counting how far over in characters a tweet us next to the little +. I know this because in going to RT an item, I hit the edit button on Tweetdeck instead and the tweet was already over 140 characters.
ReplyDeleteAll these clients are really just personal preference. I know lots of folks like HootSuite, but I just wasn't wowed by it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will with YOU leading the charge- nasty old hootsuite!
ReplyDeleteThe TweetDeck support staff is slow in understanding this issue for some reason. Their response of "just don't tweet more than 140 characters" is simplistic.
ReplyDeleteBefore this change, we couldn't tweet more than 140; the tweet couldn't be sent. Now, we can all unknowingly tweet more and, as such, use Deck.ly. No one wants to be on guard when they tweet. A simple enable or disable feature is the only solid solution. Hope TweetDeck activates one soon!
I went and left a comment at the link you gave. I do not see it posted though. I told them that simply telling us "not to type over 140 char and it will not be activated" is a lazy and cheesy way of not having to program a shut off option so we can shut it off ourselves.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of HootSuite, unfortunately. But, if TweetDeck doesn't fix this fast I bet a lot of users will jump ship.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Adriel. It defeats the whole point of Twitter, doesn't it? TweetDeck is getting slammed today as people upgrade and realize there's no way to turn it off.
ReplyDeleteor use hootsuite
ReplyDeleteDefinitely noticed this in my stream yesterday. And very annoying. Not a good default setting at all. And yes, brevity, please. Most of the best tweets are written so that you don't HAVE to click *anything.*
ReplyDeleteThere's always behind the scenes business going on, but users know what they like, don't they?
ReplyDeleteOkay so...I have a personal update on this Deck.ly thing....I have finally gotten to experience it. I still shorten my own tweets...but another thing I have had to change in my tweeting style is this...
ReplyDeleteI use the hashtags #Help #rescue #NY on the end of my adoptable NY tweets because I have a feed on my site that reads these hashtags. So when someone retweets my tweets the hashtags are exiled to the Deck.ly extension which means that my feed doesn't read it. So now I am forced to put these particular hashtags at the beginning of my adoptable tweets....UGH!
In the now updated version of TweetDeck, you can finally disable Deck.ly. Unfortunately, the damage is already done. It's still there as the default and too many people have just gotten used to the extended tweets.
ReplyDeleteIn your case, with the hashtags, you're right. That does complicate matters. Such a silly and annoying "improvement" that Deck.ly thing is. UGH!
so...today I logged onto Tweetdeck and started tweeting away...I don't often get into the "warning" colors too often with Deck.ly because I make sure to stay under the 140 characters...but today I couldn't help notice a new color...a deep burgandy color when a tweet I was retweeting went over the 140 character limit. I then became curious...and I glanced over to the right of the screen and noticed a new button - Long Update. It appears once the character count goes past 140 and when checked will enable Deck.ly for that tweet....Amber you are such an influencer! : )
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Hey Rachel, thanks for commenting. There's a new version now (37.5) and you can go into settings and completely disable Deck.ly now. Thank goodness! That was driving me nuts!
ReplyDeleteThere's always behind the scenes business going on, but users know what they like, don't they?
ReplyDeleteSo of course...because I take everything you so say so seriously - especially since you called me out on Twitter (giggle) - I can't help but feel incredibly guilty whenever I use Deck.ly for my tweets....I really try not to...because of course I agree with your take on Deck.ly....which makes my feelings of guilt even more intense. I mean, Deck.ly really defeats the whole purpose of Twitter...But...with many of the tweets that I want to RT, I just get tired of shortening them so I can retweet them........then that Deck.ly button calls out to me and says "Just use me...that's what I'm here for" and the temptation is just so strong....that I give in ....especially when I am retweeting the adoption tweets because there are so many of them : (
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing me to confess.
Have I told you today how much I LOVE your blog?: )
Ha ha. Is this blog morphing into a confessional? ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell, to each his own. As with most things, moderation is the key. I suppose it can come in handy here and there.
Have I told YOU today how much I love the blog header you made for me??? #MutualAdmirationSociety
So of course...because I take everything you so say so seriously - especially since you called me out on Twitter (giggle) - I can't help but feel incredibly guilty whenever I use Deck.ly for my tweets....I really try not to...because of course I agree with your take on Deck.ly....which makes my feelings of guilt even more intense. I mean, Deck.ly really defeats the whole purpose of Twitter...But...with many of the tweets that I want to RT, I just get tired of shortening them so I can retweet them........then that Deck.ly button calls out to me and says "Just use me...that's what I'm here for" and the temptation is just so strong....that I give in ....especially when I am retweeting the adoption tweets because there are so many of them : (
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing me to confess.
Have I told you today how much I LOVE your blog?: )
Ha ha. Is this blog morphing into a confessional? ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell, to each his own. As with most things, moderation is the key. I suppose it can come in handy here and there.
Have I told YOU today how much I love the blog header you made for me??? #MutualAdmirationSociety
Did you know that you can shorten your long urls with OUO and get money from every visit to your shortened urls.
ReplyDelete