Twitter launches ‘Circle’ feature to allow closed group conversations

Social media platform Twitter Inc can, sometimes, feel like a crowded place, especially if your followers run into lakhs or thousands. Here, more often than not, people with divergent opinions, can get caught in 'whataboutery' and hence, the meaning of the discussion is lost midway.

To address this problem and to allow influencers to share their ideas within closed groups, Twitter has come up with a new feature called 'Circle', which allows you to tweet to a smaller selective crowd. The feature has been launched globally with effect from August 30, 2022.

With Twitter Circle, people can choose -- up to 150 people -- who can see and engage with their content on a tweet-by-tweet basis. This will allow them to have more "intimate conversations and build closer connections with select followers".

The feature is much like Meta-owned WhatsApp’s group’s feature, though it works differently. Twitter started testing the Circle feature in May 2022, and received an “overwhelming response”, says the company. The feature will be made available to everyone on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com globally.

How it works

Before you post anything on Twitter, you’ll now see an option to share it with either your circle or your full followers’ list. Circles can contain up to 150 people, and you can adjust who’s in and who’s out at any time. No one is notified of any changes one makes to the circle.

Tweets sent to your circle will appear with a "green badge" underneath them. They can only be seen by those selected to be in the circle and cannot be retweeted or shared. Additionally, all replies to these tweets are private, even if your Twitter account is public.

Anyone who wants the flexibility and control to send tweets to a smaller group can use this feature. Anyone on Twitter can be added to a circle, even if they don’t follow someone. Each account is allowed to have only one circle. Only you can see the full list of people in your circle.

Although people won’t see a list of circle members, when someone likes or replies to a circle tweet you share, members see your interaction, unless your account is protected. Also, people who are currently in your Twitter Circle can see any Twitter Circle tweets you’ve shared as well as any non-protected replies to those tweets.

Twitter says the new feature will ensure everyone on the platform has the choice, control, tools, and transparency to join the conversation how and when they want. The company claims since it started testing the feature, people shared they feel “more comfortable tweeting and expressing themselves”; it emanates the need for alternate or secondary accounts; and helps avoid toggling between protected and public account settings.

Some results from the company's 'Circle test' include increased overall tweeting and increased engagement -- likes and replies -- rate on circle tweets.

Meanwhile, Twitter is currently engaged in a bitter legal battle with Tesla Inc chief Elon Musk after the billionaire ended the $44 billion deal to buy the platform abruptly. Twitter has sued Musk in the U.S. Delaware Court of Chancery last month and the trial in the case is expected to start in October.