Twitter has quietly reversed a contentious decision made last week, restoring the text of since-deleted tweets embedded on third-party websites. Twitter user @RuinDig was the first to notice the change. In a blog post, IndieWeb developer Kevin Marks criticized Twitter for “tampering with the public record” by using JavaScript to purposely hide the content of deleted tweets embedded in other tweets. Previously, text information from removed embedded tweets would still be visible. That behavior has been reintroduced.
Twitter senior product manager Eleanor Harding noted at the time that by hiding deleted tweets saved on the web, the company was attempting to better respect its customers’ desires. However, open web activists and developers reacted angrily to Twitter’s decision to change embedded deleted tweets to hide their text, claiming the corporation went too far. “After hearing your input, we’ve decided to roll back this move for the time being while we look at other solutions,” a Twitter spokeswoman told TechCrunch, confirming the change. “We appreciate everyone who took the time to express their thoughts – your feedback helps us improve Twitter.”
Twitter’s edit tweet button isn’t the only new tool that can change the course of history. The corporation appears to have modified how it handles embedded tweets that were removed after the fact, leaving gaps all over the internet. Previously, the text content of a deleted tweet embedded in a web page would remain be visible. The text has vanished, leaving only a blank area. Many developers and open web activists are outraged that Twitter is changing web pages with deleted embedded tweets by obscuring the content with JavaScript.
Kevin Marks, an IndieWeb developer and former Google Developer Advocate, blasted Twitter’s move in a blog post, comparing it to “tampering with the public record.” Former President Trump’s since-removed tweets, according to Marks, are an example of public-interest information that should be preserved, and Twitter’s new approach to deleted embedded tweets is “disturbing.” Twitter Senior Product Manager Eleanor Harding responded to Marks’ concerns in a tweet, saying that the move aims to “better respect when individuals have opted to delete their Tweets.” Harding stated that instead of leaving a completely blank area, the removed tweet embeds will shortly display a message, as is the case right now.
