Twitter Circle lets users share posts with selected audience

Twitter has rolled out a new feature that allows users to send Tweets that are only visible to a selected audience, hoping it will foster greater expression and strengthen bonds between core groups of followers who share the same interests – ultimately driving activity.

Twitter Circle has been in testing since May, with the company saying the response was overwhelmingly positive. Now anyone on the platform has the option to either share a post with all their followers, or to a ‘Circle’ of up to 150 users.

These Tweets cannot be retweeted or shared, and all replies are private, while any post intended for a specific circle will be denoted by a green badge. Users can only create one circle and only they can see the full list of members.

This level of privacy and freedom is what separates Circles from another recent addition to the platform, Twitter Communities.

‘We want to ensure everyone on Twitter has the choice, control, tools, and transparency to join the conversation how and when they want, and Twitter Circle is another important step in that direction,’ said Twitter.

‘Giving people the option to share thoughts with a select group of followers helps make Tweeting more accessible. This is true whether you’re brand new to Twitter or you have millions of followers.’

SportsPro says…

Twitter has arguably been the most public-facing social network ever since it arrived on the scene in the late 2000s, with the ability to connect with each other and with public figures a fundamental part of its appeal.

Hashtags have long been the dominant method of discovering conversations, but the world of social networking has moved on and there is a renewed focus on privacy. Twitter itself has matured too, and many users are now keen for more flexibility.

Circles follows the introduction of Spaces, Communities, and the ability to limit who can interact with certain Tweets – focusing the conversation and reducing the risk of abuse.

For the sports industry, Circles are an opportunity for federations, teams, and athletes to speak directly to a select group of fans or to stage exclusive events. For example, a soccer club could invite users into a circle with their favourite player for 24 hours.

Circles will also facilitate discussion about sporting topics that don’t necessarily interest all a user’s followers. Indeed, flooding everyone’s timeline about a specific fantasy sport league, the nuances of sports broadcasting, or the latest addition to the Swiss ice hockey league could lose followers.

Ultimately, Twitter hopes its new feature will stimulate activity around topics that might have previously been held elsewhere or not at all.