Twitter rolled out its new story feature ‘Fleets” on Tuesday, but users seemed less than thrilled with the Instagram-like stories.

Twitter rolled out its story feature “Fleets” on Tuesday, a new, less permanent way to post on the social media platform.
But users appear to have mixed feelings about another platform debuting temporary stories.
In a blog post on Tuesday, Twitter’s Design Director Joshua Harris and Product Manager Sam Haveson said that people have reported feeling a tweet is too final, and wanting some flexibility in what they post and the duration that post stays up.
“To help people feel more comfortable, we’ve been working on a lower pressure way for people to talk about whats happening. Today, we’re launching Fleets so everyone can easily join the conversation in a new way with their fleeting thoughts,” the blog post states.
Fleets appear at the top of the app in round bubbles with the icon of the user who posted them in the center. Once they are posted, they stay for 24 hours and then expire so people can no longer access them.
That thing you didnt Tweet but wanted to but didnt but got so close but then were like nah.
We have a place for that nowFleets!
Rolling out to everyone starting today. pic.twitter.com/auQAHXZMfH
Twitter (@Twitter) November 17, 2020
Users can also send direct messages from a Fleet post.
The entire format is one that has been used and pioneered by apps like Snapchat and Instagram, and later adopted by platforms Facebook (which owns Instagram), LinkedIn and others.
Twitter acknowledged the familiarity of the new feature.
“This format may sound familiar to you! Weve learned that some people feel more comfortable joining conversations on Twitter with this ephemeral format, so what theyre saying lives just for a moment in time,” the blog post stated.
Fleets is a very fun and necessary addition to Twitter. All social media platforms are not seemingly blending together.
!
Kassie McClung (@KassieMcClung) November 17, 2020
your honor I would like to deliver my legal argument to this court in the form of a Fleet
Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) November 17, 2020
so happy for gay twitter users that this is being called “fleets”. have a blast you guys
dylan gelula (@DylanGelula) November 17, 2020
As the feature rolled out to users, some were excited to have a new avenue to communicate. Some wondered what Fleets was after it appeared on their dashboard without explanation. Many memed it.
But some appeared exasperated and frustrated at yet another platform using the same stories feature that has been popularized on other apps.
The first post for many Fleets was simply the word, “No.”
Others remarked on its similarities to other platforms.
“Does the fleets thing stress anyone else out? Like I use Twitter to get away from IG stories, not have it follow me around on every platform reminding me that I dont have makeup on,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
“Fleets are the thing that will finally make me cut the number of accounts I follow in half,” tweeted host of the “Friends at the Table” podcast Austin Walker.
“i hate fleets but i hate the fleet discourse even more. none of your jokes are funny. please stop. i’m begging you,” tweeted BuzzFeed News reporter Addy Baird.
A Public Service Announcement for my straight followers–yes, this is a special message for both of you–if you’re wondering why all the gays are freaking out about Twitter calling their version of disappearing stories Fleets, well, this is why pic.twitter.com/8I8VU0ukI2
Dr. Steven W. Thrasher (@thrasherxy) November 17, 2020
Im sorry but its absolutely gay rights that Twitter has normalized the word Fleet. One day, someone at work is going to ask me how to fleet and I will absolutely lose it.
Lil Uzi Hurt (@lostblackboy) November 17, 2020
And there were plenty of jokes and memes being made at the expense of Fleets.
Although the function appears to be named after a fleeting thought, “Fleets” shares its name with the enema laxative brand “Fleet,” leading to a whole range of teasing on the platform.
“When I think of Fleets I think of enemas, which might be appropriate,” Twitter user @asmudge76 tweeted.
Twitter says that Fleets are still evolving, and in the coming weeks will include more features like stickers and a broadcast function, according to the press release.