Twitter launches disappearing tweets called ‘Fleets’

Back in March, we first heard about “Fleets”. This is Twitter’s answer for ephemeral messaging, messages that disappear automatically over time.

And now Twitter is finally launching the feature. Today, the social network officially announced that it is launching Fleets into the wild. Fleets will last for just 24 hours, after which they will automatically disappear. Twitter initially tested the feature in several regions, including Italy, Brazil, South Korea, and others. According to Twitter, this feature lets people feel more comfortable while using the service. Basically, Fleets are an easy way to start a conversation without the permanence of a standard tweet.

Fleeting isn’t just for a standard tweet, either:

You can Fleet text, reactions to Tweets, photos or videos and customize your Fleets with various background and text options. To share a Tweet in a Fleet tap the “Share” icon at the bottom of the Tweet and then tap, “Share in Fleet.” Then, add what you think about it with some text or emojis. Soon, stickers and live broadcasting will be available in Fleets.

There are some things to be aware of, though:

  • If you have open Direct Messages, anyone can reply to your Fleets
  • Followers can see your Fleets at the top of their home timeline
  • Anyone who can see your full profile can see your Fleets as well

If you see a Fleet you want to reply to, simply tap on it and go from there. You can reply via a Direct Message or with an emoji, and the conversation will continue in DMs.

Twitter says Fleets are rolling out now, and soon every Twitter user across the globe will have access to the feature.