Want to compose a long post on Twitter but afraid that everything you want to say won’t fit in one tweet? The easiest option is to post a series of tweets and combine them into a Twitter thread (or a tweet thread).
With a tweet subject, you don’t have to limit yourself to the standard 280 characters. Instead, you can use this social media platform to provide additional context or argument for your point, and update it later with more information. Below you’ll find more information about what a Twitter thread looks like and how you can create your first thread.
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What is a Twitter thread?
Previously every tweet had a strict character limit of 140 characters, and that was all you could write in a single Twitter post. However, as the platform grew, Twitter users kept asking for more space to express themselves. Since Twitter didn’t want users to switch to another platform like Snapchat or Instagram, they introduced new post formats.
Today, you can publish tweets, polls, GIFs, longer images and videos, groups and series. Twitter threads are a relatively new feature.
A Twitter thread is a series of connected tweets posted by the same Twitter user. These are linked together by the Reply function and appear as a continuous tweet with the second tweet and other additional tweets attached with the same comments as the original tweet.
How to find and view topics on Twitter
If it’s a thread from someone you follow, you’ll see it on your timeline as a number of tweets connected by a straight line. If the thread has four or more tweets, those tweets will be truncated. To expand and view the entire series, you need to select Show this thread options next to individual tweets.
On your profile, a thread will appear as separate tweets, posted in reverse chronological order. All tweets under a topic will have the same Show this thread next display option. When you Retweet or Quote from Tweet belong to a topic, retweets will also include Show this thread so others can select it to see the entire series.
Users often mark their Twitter threads with #topic to distinguish them from normal tweets and avoid their followers jumping into comments on the first tweet before the entire thread is complete.
To make sure your followers read the tweets in your thread in the correct order, you can also number the posts in your thread: for example, 1/5, 2/5, etc. to someone in a thread, they get a standard Twitter message about it.
Twitter Topics vs. Tweetstorm
If you’ve heard of tweetstorms before, learning about Twitter topics can be confusing, as they sound similar. While topics and tweetstorms can be similar, they are not always.
When a user posts a number of tweets rapidly, one after the other, that is called a tweetstorm. However, they only become a topic if these tweets are also replies to each other and are connected in that way. If the tweets are not linked together using the Reply function, they are still individual tweets that can be part of a tweetstorm, even if they are not connected to each other.
You may also find the word tweetstorm used in relation to something different. When different users tweet about the same topic (e.g. using the same hashtag or link), some people also call it a tweetstorm. However, this usage example is much less common these days.
How to create your first thread on Twitter
There are two different ways that you can use to create a thread on your Twitter account. You can use both the Twitter website and the mobile app. Follow the steps in our guide to create your first thread on Twitter.
How to create a Twitter thread using the reply function
The easiest way to create a thread on Twitter is to publish one tweet and then use the reply function to add more tweets to your thread. To create your first thread on Twitter, follow the steps below. These steps are the same for Android, iOS, and desktop users.
- Open the Twitter app or website and log in to your account.
- Open Home page, then start typing your first tweet under What’s going on (or choose Compose, compile if you are using the mobile app).
- Option tweet.
- After your first tweet is published, select Reply under it.
- When the new tweet is ready, select tweet to publish it.
Now you will see a Show this thread notification appears next to your second tweet. You can continue to publish new tweets using the Reply function until you see the last tweet of your topic.
This method is easy to use but the main problem here is that your followers may not know that this is a thread you are creating and start asking questions in the replies which you will reply in tweets after. If you choose this method, be sure to include #topic in your first tweet and number any following tweets to let your followers know that more posts are coming.
How to create a Twitter thread using the theme tool
Another way to prevent your followers from starting to comment on your post before the thread ends is to create it using Twitter’s built-in topics feature. It allows you to create an entire Twitter thread with as many tweets as you like and then publish them all at once.
To create a new thread on Twitter using the thread tool, follow the steps below. The steps are the same for all Twitter apps and the Twitter website.
- On Twitter, start typing your first tweet under What’s going on (for desktop users) or choose Compose, compile icon to create your first tweet (for mobile users).
- Choose blue + icon (for desktop users) or Continue the series (for mobile users) to add the next tweet to the topic.
- Enter your second tweet. Then choose + icon again to add another tweet.
- When you’re ready to publish your series, select Tweet all.
You should now see your thread appear in your Twitter feed.
You can add more tweets after publishing your thread. To do that, open any individual tweet in your thread, scroll down and select Add another tweet.
You can also delete any individual tweets from your subject. To do that, open the tweet you want to delete, select the three horizontal dots icon on the right side and select Delete.
Tips for creating an engaging Twitter theme
Topics are great for increasing your engagement rate on Twitter. You can use this tool to get rewards from Twitter, such as gaining new followers and becoming more discoverable by other users. However, to get the most out of Twitter streams, here are a few things you need to keep in mind.
- Avoid using only plain text when writing your subject. Instead, use different types of media to accompany your posts, like GIFs, images, videos, and links. It’s a great way to add variety to your tweets and engage your audience, especially if it’s a long series.
- While composing your theme, don’t forget the hashtags. Tweet like a pro and make sure to use at least one hashtag in every tweet to make your thread more discoverable by users who haven’t followed you.
- If it’s a short topic, number your posts to give better structure and help your followers read the tweets in the correct order. However, if it’s a long topic, avoid numbering your posts, as seeing the final number of more than 23 posts can scare people off.
- When people start commenting in your thread, engage with their comments as soon as possible and move the conversation further. Your topic may contain the most useful information, but if it doesn’t get interaction from other users, the Twitter algorithm won’t show that information to anyone outside of those users’ circles. your followers.
Use strings to tell better stories on Twitter
Twitter offers many tools to help you capture the interest of your audience. Twitter threads are no exception. Use threads to tell better stories, engage with your audience, and make your Twitter account more discoverable for other users.
