Twitter Ditches 140-Character DM Limit

Twitter is finally removing the 140-character limit in Direct Messages. Starting next month, users can send DMs the that are up to 10,000 characters in length.

In a Thursday announcement, Twitter suggested developers test and deploy certain changes in advance of the July switch, like reviewing new API additions and adjusting app UIs to accommodate longer DMs. App makers can keep an eye on the Twitter Developer site for more directions, and a specific launch date.

We're removing the 140 character limit in DMs this July. If you are a developer, check out API documentation here: https://t.co/G5I3LmxLG6

— Sachin Agarwal (@agarwal) June 11, 2015

The 140-character count, however, remains strictly intact for regular tweets.

"We've done a lot to improve Direct Messages over the past year and have much more exciting work on the horizon," said Sachin Agarwal, product manager for Twitter DMs.

Earlier this year, the company rolled out group DMs: Users can take a crowded conversation private, or keep in touch with multiple people and brands at once, with the same privacy as one-on-one Direct Messages. The group function, however, lets users start a conversation with any follower—even if they don't know each other.

Twitter tweaked and expanded that feature in April, letting all users accept direct messages from anyone, including people they don't follow. To turn on, iOS and Android users can enable "Receive Direct Messages from anyone" in their settings.

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This week's 140-character reversal isn't the only shakeup at Twitter: CEO Dick Costolo announced his July 1 departure, after six years at the helm of the company. Co-founder and chairman Jack Dorsey will serve as interim chief while the board searches for a replacement. Costolo will remain on Twitter's board, while Dorsey continues as CEO of mobile payment company Square.

Meanwhile, the micro-blogging platform this week introduced the ability to export and share block lists. So if you share your friend's hatred for spambots or abusers, import their list into your account and block multiple people at once.