Twitter's New Features Include 'Chirp', A Headache-Inducing Font
Twitter unveiled a revamped version of the platform on Wednesday with a brand new font called Chirp. However, many users have reported instances of headaches after the switch. Here's all you need to know
Twitter rolled out a revamped version of its website on Wednesday with better access and less clutter at the centre of modifications.
Among the most radical changes is Twitter's new font - "Chirp", complemented by a slew of measures to make items on the platform high-contrast. And Twitter is not done yet!
Notice anything different?
¡ª Twitter Design (@TwitterDesign) August 11, 2021
Today, we released a few changes to the way Twitter looks on the web and on your phone. While it might feel weird at first, these updates make us more accessible, unique, and focused on you and what you¡¯re talking about.
Let¡¯s take a deeper look. ? pic.twitter.com/vCUomsgCNA
The company is also set to add colour palettes for the platform very soon. But even before users could get used to the new font on Twitter, a valid concern has popped up.
We¡¯ve updated our colors to be high contrast and a lot less blue ¡ª a change made to draw attention to the photos and videos you create and share.
¡ª Twitter Design (@TwitterDesign) August 11, 2021
We¡¯re also rolling out new colors soon, giving you a fresh palette.
Many users are complaining of headaches after using the refreshed version of Twitter, and nobody knows why.
the new twitter font has cured my addiction to this bird app because i actually can't scroll without getting a headache now
¡ª ali de haan (@lunetsdaya) August 11, 2021
came back to twitter only to get a headache because of the new fontpic.twitter.com/hkOYppGswK
¡ª Queen mystic cashier (@yjmint_) August 11, 2021
Ok but is anyone else getting a slight headache from the Twitter font change or just me
¡ª Max @ Meat Meditation (@tuxedomakscos) August 11, 2021
Twitter claims that it will take users some time to get used to the changes.
What is Chirp?
"Chirp" was initially introduced on the platform in January as Twitter's pilot typeface.
Earlier, Twitter used multiple fonts for its brand including SF Pro, Roboto, and Helvetica.
Unsplash
With Chirp, Twitter is asserting its identity. When it was originally unveiled, Twitter had no plans to make Chirp its typeset. Twitter's global creative director, Derrit DeRouen, however said that his decision was influenced by his personal preference for Chirp.
I want to give a bit more depth to Chirp, our new typeface.
¡ª Derrit DeRouen (@DerritDeRouen) January 27, 2021
Type, in 280 character doses, is the foundation of Twitter. In the history of the company we¡¯ve either relied on someone else¡¯s typeface, from SF Pro and Roboto, to Helvetica Neue in our brand. pic.twitter.com/OrvlYsxF9g
Starting now, Chirp will become an intrinsic part of Twitter and is being rolled out on iOS and Android as well.
To make reading on Twitter easier, the company is also aligning all Western-language text in the left. Non-Western content for languages like Hindi remains unchanged.
Twitter is also bluer!
With high-contrast colours now on Twitter, the platform is looking bluer than ever! Twitter has made great efforts to reduce clutter on the screen, but not everyone is happy.
Here's what Twitterverse was chirping about after the changes.
You could've just made the font changeable based on the user settings (and Android already did that! Not sure about iOS though) and made a lot of this under settings, instead of forcing it upon users that don't even want the change
¡ª Naz (@BluSpringg) August 11, 2021
I literally can't even read it without eye pain, did they not test this on people with migraines or reading dificulties? Geez.
¡ª Jaye Kizaki (@JayeMover_16) August 11, 2021
Sure Twitter, change my fonts & colors just to fvck with me a little. I don't mind ? pic.twitter.com/iIoucGlsUU
¡ª Woke ? "Crucify the ego before it's far too late" (@WokeAnimal) August 11, 2021
The changes reflect a change in how Twitter wants content to be consumed and created on its platform.
These include "Super Follow" to enable monetisation of content in a way which allows creators to make money.
Unsplash
In addition, Twitter is expected to launch Amazon-like shopping features, a paid subscription model, a new way to bookmark, and lots more. Behold, Twitterati, for new colour palettes are coming soon!
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