Twitter rolls out Fleets – tweets that disappear after 24 hours

Social media platform Twitter is rolling out a brand new feature which promises to encourage easier engagement with friends and followers in a quick and stress-free way.

If you're on Twitter, you should be familiar with the popular social media platform's unique limit on the number of characters for posts (including spaces), and it has been a gradual process of adding new and much welcome features throughout the years: the character count has been bumped up from 140 to 280, multiple images can now be posted on one tweet, and memorable posts can be archived via "Moments."

Now in 2020, in a year fueled by anxiety and uncertainy – especially when it almost seems like everyone in the world has taken residence inside social media over the past nine months – Twitter has come up with a way to ease the pressure on posting, letting users tweet quick and in-the-moment thoughts which disappear after 24 hours.

Right this moment, Twitter is launching Fleets, a brand new feature that the company hopes will make users easily "join the conversation in a new way – with their fleeting thoughts."

Fleets are meant for the sharing of momentary thoughts, which would hopefully get a conversation going with your followers. Fleets last for only 24 hours, and knowing these disappear from view after a day may take your mind off any pressure from having a tweet linger in your timeline forever.

So, what can be sent with Fleets? Anything from text, reactions to tweets, photos, videos, you name it. Fleets can be customized further with backgrounds and other text options.

It's as simple as tapping the "share" icon at the bottom of a tweet, tap the "Share in Fleet" option, then add whatever you need with text or emojis. Twitter says that stickers and live broadcasts will be added to Fleets in the near future.

Your Twitter  followers can see your Fleets at the top of their home timeline, and anyone who can see your full profile can see your Fleets there as well. Anyone can reply to your Fleets if you've opened up your Direct Messaging, and you may continue the conversation from there.

According to Twitter, people felt more comfortable sharing using Fleets, "Through our tests in Brazil, Italy, India, and South Korea, we learned Fleets helped people feel more comfortable joining the conversation – we saw people with Fleets talk more on Twitter. Those new to Twitter found Fleets to be an easier way to share what's on their mind. Because they disappear from view after a day, Fleets helped people feel more comfortable sharing personal and casual thoughts, opinions, and feelings. These are early findings from our tests, and we’re excited to learn more about how Fleets are used by you."

What do you think of Fleets? Let us know once you have it. Fleets on Twitter will roll out on iOS and Android for everyone soon.