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Memes mock Twitter's major redesign

  • Published
    16 June 2017
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Screen grab of tweet by @elliesunakawaImage source, Twitter/@elliesunakawa
By Lamia Estatie
BBC News

Not everyone takes kindly to change and when Twitter unveiled a surprise update to its website and app, its users were quick to mock the new look.

As part of the redesign, external, profile icons are now round instead of square, the reply icon is reflected by a chat bubble, and likes and retweets are shown in real time in the app.

Some people poked fun at some of the changes, while others lamented the update's lack of an "edit tweet, external" button.

And several expressed the view that they preferred Twitter focusing on making the platform a "safer place to express yourself, external".

Screen grab of tweet by @acedollasssImage source, Twitter/@acedollasss

A round Spongebob Squarepants, external made his Twitter debut with some images comparing, external "old and new" Twitter to a square and round Spongebob.

Another comparison showed, external round and square designed toilets.

Screen grab of tweet by @0ryugeImage source, Twitter/@0ryuge

The round profile icon also appeared to be problematic for accounts that had set their photos to the previous square icon, including the Twitter account for the video game series Minecraft, external.

"Twitter's latest round update is clearly a war on Minecraft players everywhere," a Minecraft employee tweeted, external.

Screen grab of tweet by @DropsImage source, Twitter/@Drops

One user pointed out, external that it had also taken US President Donald Trump's trademark hair from view.

Screen grab of tweet by @yusuabdulImage source, Twitter/@yusuabdul

It also affected the profile icons of some media organisations: "Brands hating Twitter's design team right now..., external".

But not to worry, BBC Breaking News has since updated, external its icon.

Screen grab of tweet by @MattNavarraImage source, Twitter/@MattNavara

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A Twitter account for Lego Loki cut out, external his own new icon.

Screen grab of tweet by @Loki_LegoImage source, Twitter/@Loki_Lego

One user suggested a new Twitter logo, external, featuring a much rounder blue bird.

Screen grab of tweet by @goremagalaImage source, Twitter/@goremagala

But some criticised the change, saying they wanted Twitter to focus on removing online trolls, external and "Nazis, external" from the platform.

Misinformation and fake news has circulated on Twitter in the past, including following both the Manchester and London attacks.

Coming to Twitter's defence, one user said, external it was at least positive that they hadn't introduced Stories.

Screen grab of tweet by @BittuPostsImage source, Twitter/@BittuPosts

The Stories feature, a feed of videos and pictures in the top strip of apps, appears on Snapchat, Facebook-owned Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp.

It was also introduced to Facebook in April and the internet went all out in poking fun at the news, rolling out Stories for everything.

By the UGC and Social News team

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