Starting February 20th, Twitter decided to shorten or limits tweets that include a URL to as few as 117 characters. This means a little less flexibility for users (or a definite need to use URL shortening services like Bit.ly and Goo.gl.)

Twitter is saying the new limitation are due to changes in how Twitter’s t.co link wrapper handles URLs.

“In short, the condensed links now take up a bit more space, leaving you with a little less space to add commentary with them. In total, the update represents a two-character drop per tweet,” said a report from Mashable.

Due to this change, tweets sent with a URL will be reduced to 118 characters for http: URLs, or 117 for https: links.

Every character counts!

So Twitter users need to consider their tweets a bit more and squeeze as much info into their digital Haikus before sending them to their followers, specially if these include links.

This becomes problematic if users wish to quote on an existing tweet that is already maxxed out. It will require additional editing and affect the spontaneity of the transmission. This is a new challenge for Twitter users that will likely be met with mixed emotions.

Still, studies have proven that best tweets contained less than 70 characters.  A study conducted by MIT found these shorter tweets get retweeted twice as often as normal.

Skilled wordsmiths should be able to pump out coherent and catchy tweets way below the new 117 character limit.