Twitter has confirmed that it experienced a security error in its Circle feature that made private tweets visible to the public. The Circle feature allows users to share content only with a select group of trusted friends, but the glitch in April 2023 allowed Circle tweets to be seen publicly. Users had reported this issue in early April, with some complaining that private tweets were visible to unintended audiences, including people outside their Circle.
Although Twitter claimed the bug has been fixed, the glitch has been a problem for months and has created privacy concerns for users who post sensitive information or content. Twitter sent an email to its Circle users acknowledging the error and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. The company also stated that it knows the cause of the issue and has fixed it.
The Circle feature has been unreliable in other ways too, with some Circle tweets still showing up without the green banner that indicates they are only visible to a select audience. Although the retweet button will be greyed out, it can be confusing for users who may believe their private tweets are public. TechCrunch first reported on that particular glitch in February, but it still has not been fixed.
Twitter’s Circle feature has become a go-to feature for users who want to share content with only a trusted group of friends, but this security error has raised concerns about its reliability. The company has apologized to its users for the glitch and claims it has taken steps to ensure it does not happen again.
However, this incident highlights the need for social media platforms to be vigilant about their security measures to protect user privacy. Twitter’s error has once again exposed the dangers of relying on third-party apps and services to protect sensitive data, and the importance of regularly updating software and security measures. Twitter must take this incident as a wake-up call to prioritize its users’ privacy and safety by investing in more rigorous security protocols to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
