Character limit
{{Short description|Limit on the number of characters in a message}}
{{for|the book|Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
A character limit is a limit on the number of characters in a message which is used in SMS messaging and on social media platforms such as Twitter, Mastodon, Bluesky, GNU social, Bilibili, Pixiv, and Jejemon.
Character limits usually lead to messages being shorter and users being forced to shorten messages through the use of abbreviations, emojis and acronyms.Boot, A.B., Tjong Kim Sang, E., Dijkstra, K. et al. How character limit affects language usage in tweets. Palgrave Commun 5, 76 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0280-3
The character limit originated with SMS messages which had a limit of 160 characters. This character limit was invented by Friedhelm Hillebrand in 1984, who determined that it was sufficient for most communications.{{cite web|url=https://www.silicon.co.uk/mobility/smartphones/tales-tech-history-sms-212391|title=Tales In Tech History: The SMS Text Message At 25|author=Tom Jowitt|date=4 December 2017|publisher=Silicon|accessdate=14 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://datanews.knack.be/nieuws/de-sms-bestaat-22-jaar-een-terugblik/|title=De sms bestaat 22 jaar: een terugblik|author=Michael Ilegems|date=3 December 2014|publisher=DataNews|accessdate=14 March 2024}}
On Twitter
The 160-character limit was adopted by Twitter when the site launched in 2006, 20 characters were reserved for the username, with 140 characters for the tweet.{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3060165/a-brief-history-of-twitters-140-character-limit|title=A Brief History Of Twitter's 140-Character Limit|author=Harry McCracken|date=24 May 2016|publisher=Fast Company|accessdate=14 March 2024}} The original limit was seen as an iconic fixture of the platform,{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Carissa |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Twitter is actually ditching the 140-character limit (for some) |work=Mashable |url=https://mashable.com/article/twitter-character-count-280-test |access-date=14 March 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Schofield |first=Zach |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Twitter is experimenting with l-o-n-g 280-character tweets |work=ZDnet |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/twitter-is-experimenting-with-280-character-tweets/ |access-date=14 March 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Twitter trials expanding tweets from 140 characters to 280 |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/26/twitter-trials-an-expansion-beyond-140-characters/ |access-date=14 March 2024}} encouraging "speed and brevity".{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Selina |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Twitter to Let Some Break 140-Character Limit in Tweet Test |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-26/twitter-to-let-some-break-the-140-character-limit-in-tweet-test |access-date=14 March 2024}}
In March 2017, the character limit on Twitter was changed so that media attachments or mentions in replies would not increase the character limit.{{Cite news |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=March 30, 2017 |title=Twitter stops counting @ Replies towards its 140 characters on web and mobile |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/30/twitter-stops-counting-replies-towards-its-140-characters/ |access-date=15 March 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Terry |date=March 30, 2017 |title=Twitter makes more room for replies, just don't overdo it |work=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/twitter-usernames-wont-count-in-140-character-limit/ |access-date=15 March 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Newton |first=Casey |author-link=Casey Newton |date=March 30, 2017 |title=Twitter redesigns replies so usernames don't count against the 140-character limit |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15115290/twitter-replies-redesign-character-limit |access-date=15 March 2024}} In November 2017, Twitter increased its character limit from 140 to 280 characters.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/27/so-why-oh-why-is-twitter-doing-280/|title=So why oh why is Twitter doing #280?|author=Natasha Lomas|date=27 September 2017|publisher=Tech Crunch|accessdate=15 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/07/twitter-officially-expands-its-character-count-to-280-starting-today/|title=Twitter officially expands its character count to 280 starting today|author=Sarah Perez|date=7 November 2017|publisher=Tech Crunch|accessdate=15 March 2024}}
In 2023, Twitter boosted the character limit for Twitter Blue subscribers. In February, it was increased to 4000.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/twitter-blue-4000-characters-tweets-205319437.html|title=Twitter Blue users can now post tweets with up to 4,000 characters|author=Jon Fingas|date=8 February 2023|publisher=engadget|accessdate=15 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/02/08/twitter-boosts-character-limit-to-4000-for-twitter-blue-subscribers/|title=Twitter Boosts Character Limit To 4,000 For Twitter Blue Subscribers|author=Nicholas Reimann|date=8 February 2023|work=Forbes|accessdate=15 March 2024}} In April, it was again increased to 10,000,{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/14/twitter-now-lets-its-paid-subscribers-tweet-10000-characters.html|title=Twitter now lets its paid subscribers tweet 10,000 characters|author=Rohan Goswami|date=14 April 2023|publisher=CNBC|accessdate=15 March 2024}} and in June, to 25,000.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/twitter-blue-subscribers-getting-extended-character-limit-for-tweets/articleshow/101317115.cms|title=Twitter Blue subscribers getting extended character limit for tweets|date=27 June 2023|publisher=Times of India|accessdate=15 March 2024}}