The TweetDeck App Is Back to Its Old Version, but for How Long?

The TweetDeck app was launched as a free and standalone social media management tool in 2008 before Twitter managed to snag it in 2011. Designed for Twitter professionals and power users, the comprehensive app aimed at greasing enhanced Twitter functionality TweetDeck gained steam for its streamlined interface and advanced features and amassed a significant user base. After being acquired by Twitter, the TweetDeck app was integrated into the platform but also retained its original glory. 

Last week, Twitter moored an upgraded rendition of TweetDeck and it’s already doing a volte-face now. On July 3, the authoritative Twitter Support account announced a new version of TweetDeck – a caveat that implied that in 30 days, only Twitter Blue subscribers (the premium service) would be able to access the TweetDeck app and its tools.  

“We have just launched a new, improved version of TweetDeck.”

But, in a surprising turn of events, the old version of TweetDeck is reinstated with no intimation of the return of the TweetDeck app by Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino, the controversial CEO Elon Musk, or any other official Twitter handles. 

TweetDeck App: Old Version Vs TweetDeck 2.0

Being an independently free app for 15 years, TweetDeck was an impressive and valuable tool for businesses and individuals alike. The features of the old TweetDeck included customizing multiple columns to monitor real-time analytics, creating a personalized dashboard, managing multiple Twitter accounts simultaneously, scheduling tweets in advance, and refining tweet searches with criteria filtering. 

TweetDeck 2.0 interpolated newer functionalities such as video docking and an improved Tweet composer. However, owing to the omission of many key features such as the Activity Tab and TweetDeck Teams in the new version of the TweetDeck app, users were losing interest. The latter feature allowed users to connect accounts with each other without sharing passwords. 

A preview of TweetDeck. (Image Courtesy – Twitter @LucaHammer)

Several recent developments also hinted at Twitter’s inclination to transform towards a subscription-based model for TweetDeck – the app that had been free for more than a decade was going to become paid. This move gained mixed reactions to the social media management tool.  

The introduction of exclusive features to limited Twitter Blue subscribers raised concerns amongst users who were invested in the free old version of TweetDeck. Many users aggressively voiced their concerns about the removal of essential functionalities from the new version of the TweetDeck app, suspecting that something was fishy about the future availability and pricing structure of the tool. 

The return of the old TweetDeck might be temporary but has provided much-needed respite to users who were greeted with the familiar interface and a complete package of the required features. The uncertainty encompassing the reason for the availability of the old version of the TweetDeck app has created a sense of urgency among users who wish to utilize it while it is still accessible. 

But that brings a burning question to the forefront: Is TweetDeck 2.0 gone for real? Is the return of the old TweetDeck here to stay or a glitch? Is Twitter upgrading additional features after hearing the concerns of users? Or is this a concealed strategy of Elon Musk to capture the limelight away again from the much-hyped release of rival Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Threads?