According to a recent announcement by X (formerly Twitter), the platform has decided to shut down its Circles feature just a year after its launch. Circles allowed users to selectively tweet or post to a specific group of friends or colleagues without making it visible to the entire world. This move is part of the platform’s ongoing changes, which include rebranding and the removal of features like Twitter Blue.
The Circles feature was initially introduced in May 2022 for testing purposes, with a limited number of iOS, Android, and web users having access to it. It was later released to the public in August. However, X surprised its users by announcing that Circles will no longer be available after October 31, 2023.
In a blog post on X’s official website, it was stated that users would no longer be able to create new posts limited to their Circle or add people to their Circle after the specified date. However, they will still have the option to remove users from their circles if they choose to unfollow them.
To remove someone from your Circle on X, simply log into your account and go to the profile of the person you wish to remove. Unfollow them, and they will be automatically removed from your Circle. They will also lose access to any previous posts shared within that Circle.
It is important to note that Circles is different from Twitter Communities. While Communities offer dedicated spaces for discussions on specific topics with anyone on TwitterCircles are designed for sharing tweets exclusively with selected individuals. Unlike Communities, leaving a Twitter Circle is not currently an option. If you no longer want to be part of a Circle, you will need either block the person or stop following them.
X’s decision has raised questions about user privacy and control over their social media experience. While some users appreciated being able to limit their audience through Circles, others found it restrictive compared to other platforms’ features such as Facebook Groups or Instagram’s Close Friends.
It is worth mentioning that the source of this information can be found in an article on Hindustan Times, which provides further insights into X’s decision to shut down Circles. According to a report, X aims to focus on other features and improvements for its users moving forward.
The kernel, X’s decision to close Circles marks another significant change in the platform’s recent transformation. While some users may lament the loss of this selective sharing feature, it remains to be seen what new developments X has in store for its user base.
