Twitter Shouldn’t Allow an Edit Button. Here’s Why.

How could one oppose the notion of Twitter allowing us an edit button? Twitter users often rant about how Twitter lacks edit option for their embarrassingly misspelled, incorrect grammar-laden Tweets. On March 4, Twitter announced an update about implementing and testing out ‘Fleets’. Not surprisingly, Tweets protesting for an edit feature quickly littered the offending social media site with there being a general dissent around the purpose of Fleets. (Fleets, by the way, are Tweets which disappear 24 hours after posting. Think of Snapchat or Instagram Stories.)

Now having the option to edit Tweets generally seems like a good thing. No doubt it would help with clearer communication. For businesses, it would aid in professionalism. All in all, it would combat the blundering autocorrect feature on your device. 

Now for the Bad…

Currently, something you Tweet out is permanent unless you delete it. We’re talking about the internet, so is that angry Tweet really deleted? If you have any type of following, deleted Tweets are never really gone. 

There is so much human here when it comes to putting on masks, assuming identities and stating bold opinions hiding behind them. We are in the world of instant news, clickbait, trolling, and the very rapid spread of information (true, false, damaging, rumours, all of it). Something you said in a Tweet being irreversible, unedited and raw, is important. Sure, you can update and clarify that something by sending out even more Tweets. This shows the progression and change of thought – noteworthy indications of a person behind the words. Hence, this is why Twitter should not allow an edit button.

Please correctly assume that I am not referring to spelling mistakes and autocorrect. The real problem: fake news. Its rapid trajectory (thanks to the nature of Twitter) coupled with it possessing the scary potential to be extremely damaging. Imagine a Tweet sent out by a person in the media. The user deletes it. However, the Tweet is edited and spread around by trolls or even as a joke. Still, depending on its contents, it may do harm. Also, would it not be confusing as heck when screenshots of Tweets keep circulating? You cannot know if it is real or not. The average user might take it as true. At the very least your perception of that person is tarnished, often unconsciously, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. I have noticed that when I reflect on occasion why I dislike so-and-so, I tend to not have a clear answer.

Something I have experienced myself is the compulsion to record certain petty moments in life – things no one really cares about: what I ate for dinner, when I finished reading a certain book or had a particular conversation with someone, etc. This could be private (diary) or public (telling someone or posting on Twitter). I mention this because there is a general compulsion to document that this indeed happened. It goes with the rampant use of the modern phrase “proof or it didn’t happen”. However, later on, many of us regret ever even thinking that it was a good idea to post [blank]. They say “think before you speak” (very good advice), which in the 21st century extends to “think before you post”.

With that being said, maybe it wasn’t a good idea to post this post. Am I paranoid or overthinking? Should Twitter allow an edit button? You can let me know by leaving a comment – I’d love to have another opinion.