The Twitter algorithm changes have left many to leave Twitter. Some like my friend Brenda has come back to the social network. Many new people hopped on Twitter as it's an election year in the United States (if you didn't already know...)
If you have been on Twitter for any amount of time you may have noticed this year in 2020 how different the main Twitter stream looks and feels. You may have wondered where did my favorite tweets and friends go? Is Twitter eating my tweets?
Do not feel lost on Twitter anymore! Let me guide you on how you change your Twitter algorithm and make it work better for YOU.
Your Twitter Settings Effect on the Twitter Algorithm Changes
The way in which you set your Twitter settings can make a big difference in how you receive tweets.
Your Twitter Data is one area in which Twitter assumes what you like to see on Twitter. Go to Interests from Twitter. There are 2 columns there.
One of the interests is known for and the other interests are interested in it. The "interested in" column can go on and on if you spend time on Twitter.
See below on how to change your Twitter interests.
I quickly unchecked a bunch of topics that I am NOT really interested in, but Twitter thinks I am. Hmm, wondering how do they assume that? One was the NFL draft, really? Ever since Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, I lost interest in the NFL.
Another interest that came up was movies and that is not why I'm on Twitter, I don't look at movie tweets either.
Imagine, the social network Twitter now believes it knows what you like! You can uncheck some of the boxes if you know or feel they are wrong. I just did some myself as I researched this area of my Twitter settings.
The Twitter Preferences That Can Make a Difference on Your Twitter Algorithm Changes
Settings Area - if you put in your area you will see tweets around you. This does not mean you won't see other tweets, but these may come up first if events/news that is being tweeted is happening in your hometown for example.
Go to settings - then content preferences to change yours if you like. In this same area, you check accounts you have muted and unmute now if you so choose to. Oftentimes, you may have forgotten an account you muted years ago because they tweeted too often or annoyed you for another reason.
Notification Settings on your Twitter Feed
These settings can be set up to see only certain things in your notifications. There, you will l be able to see which of your Tweets have been liked, plus the latest Retweets (of your Tweets), Tweets directed to you (replies and mentions), and your new followers.
You can view your notifications in two ways: All shows you notifications for account activity like new followers, Retweets, mentions, and likes. Mentions show you notifications only for Tweets that mention your username.
In addition to your notifications, we will elevate content that we think you'll be most interested in and contributes to the conversation in a meaningful way, such as content that is relevant, credible, and safe.
Hmm, this last one is interesting as Twitter assumes what we are interested in!
But there is one thing you can do here: Turn on the quality filter on Twitter. When turned on, it filters lower-quality content from your notifications. For example, duplicate Tweets or content that appears to be automated - it does not filter notifications from people you follow or accounts you've recently interacted with.
You have the option to turn this on or off in your notification settings.
Advanced Quality Filters
You may sometimes receive notifications from certain types of accounts you'd like to avoid. In addition to enabling the quality filter, you can choose to disable notifications from the following types of accounts:
- Accounts that are new (that you don't follow).
- Twitter accounts that don't follow you (that you don't follow).
- Accounts you don't follow.
- Other accounts with a default profile photo (that you don't follow).
- Twitter accounts without a confirmed email address (that you don't follow).
- Accounts without a confirmed phone number (that you don't follow).
Your Twitter Lists Can Help You IGNORE the Twitter Algorithm Changes!
Now if you don't like what Twitter is doing with the Twitter algorithm be sure to use Twitter lists. I use these most of the day vs. my main Twitter feed.
You can stay on topic and keep focused while tweeting with your clients, colleagues, and friends.
So if you haven't used Twitter Lists yet, be sure to start creating them. This post will help you to get started today!
Recently, I was invited to a new Twitter list of women supporting women: It's a list where other women share your content and you share there's if it is relevant to your niche and audience.
(However, I don't recommend sharing other's content just of the sake of sharing and reciprocation.)
Twitter Trending Topics
Twitter has been using Trending topics for several years but there is not always a clear answer as to how and why those choose these trending topics.
This question "why was this trending on Twitter?" was asked over a half a million times last year on Google.
Twitter recently tweeted about this and blogged about how they are adding more content to the trends on Twitter.
They have now added pinned Tweets and descriptions on trends to help explain why something is trending.
Twitter goes on to say: "In the coming weeks, you should see brief descriptions added to some trends as well to help add context to the trend. Descriptions will provide straightforward, clearly sourced context around why something is trending."
No more having to scroll through Tweets to find out why something's trending.
Starting today, some trends on Android and iOS will show a Tweet that gives context right away. More on Trend improvements: https://t.co/qiGeL9Kg31 pic.twitter.com/Y9nilckl8B
- Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 1, 2020
Furthermore, I hope they do explain why these tweets are trending to all of us on the fast-paced social media network.
Twitter Display Update
You can now change the colors and font size to see the tweets better in your Twitter feed or list. These are nice changes and work both on mobile and desktop.
Go into your display settings on Twitter to see the choices you have available. Twitter is more accessible now to those who have trouble seeing. You can make the font size much larger.
Also, there is a Twitter nighttime setting that sets the background in black.
Do you like these new visible changes with the Twitter display?
Twitter Censorship Peaking in 2020
Yes, Twitter has been censoring tweets this year more than ever before. If you are on any social media network today you will notice that they are all following Twitter with more censorship.
One day you are reading a tweet and the next day it is no longer there or the Twitter account has been suspended.
The Babylon Bee has been around a few years and started with a parody blog. They have grown a lot since that time. The Babylon Bee Twitter account was suspended for a short time recently. However, Twitter lifted its suspension after a few days. Others have not been so lucky.
Big Tech absolutely targets Conservatives. Including the hilarious ones. https://t.co/JTJ0f9lcRG
- BDW (@BryanDeanWright) August 17, 2020
The Babylon Bee wrote about the incident after Twitter reinstated their account.
Twitter Apologizes After Intern Accidentally Sets Coffee On 'Destroy All Conservatives' Button https://t.co/8eB9odcaFx
- The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) August 18, 2020
Your Thoughts on the Twitter Algorithm Changes and More
Now, I'd love to know your thoughts on the Twitter algorithm changes and other updates that have been happening recently on the Twitter social media network.
Have you had your Twitter account suspended or your tweets censored recently? I would love to know more about it in the comments below.