I agree with not supporting any service that won't interconnect or work with browsers.
But, let's not forget that the majority of twitter users were on mobile.
In many parts of the world, mobile *is* the internet.
Mobile only users tend to be younger, less wealthy, less likely to be white, and more likely to from outside the US.
The flipside is don't skimp on mobile. It's essential.
I did a poll and users here lean more to desktop than twitter. It's a huge factor in many issues.
@futurebird @jwz I think having a lot of mobile-only users is an even *better* reason to insist on web support—so people don't even have to download an app if they don't want to.
SMS support (like Twitter used to have) might also be nice.
I don't think a mobile browser experience stands a chance against a quality app in terms of UI. You can do limited things to improve the interface, but it's easier to just support good app(s)
It's good that with a protocol you have options, and the ability to share things as links in texts, emails, other apps.
I haven't checked recently what percentage of people using the internet are still on flip phones. Checking quickly nearly everyone on android is on pie or better with most on android 11 or 12.
@futurebird @funcrunch This is 7 years old but it hasn’t changed too much - https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/04/15/cell-phones-in-africa-communication-lifeline/
The further you get from major cities, the less fancy ass the phones. People need things that last days on a charge and the best solution for that remains ye olde dumbphone.
Twitter dropping sms was a move I understand for security but it gentrified.
In a few short years, the proliferation of mobile phone networks has transformed communications in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also allowed Africans to skip the landline stage of development and jump right to the digital age.
7 years is a long time.
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