Twitter has moved from suggesting accounts for users to follow to run a test suggesting accounts users should unfollow, the company confirmed in a statement to TheWrap on Thursday.
The company said the test has concluded, and aimed to point out account users don’t interact with often.
“We know that people want a relevant Twitter timeline. One way to do this is by unfollowing people they don’t engage with regularly,” said a Twitter spokesperson in a statement. “We ran an incredibly limited test to surface accounts that people were not engaging with to check if they’d like to unfollow them.”
Twitter didn’t share whether the test will be adopted or revisited at a later date. Next Web’s Matt Navarra first spotted and shared screenshots of the unfollow function on Wednesday.
The test could be looked at as another way Twitter is looking to improve the “health of public conversation” on its platform. The San Francisco-based company has tweaked several features in the last year, including pushing mean tweets to the bottom of reply threads, as it is looking to satiate its declining user base. The unfollow list could be a high-risk, high-reward feature if added across the board, however, as the company has recently fought claims that it shadow bans prominent conservatives — which the company has declined doing.
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.