Not so long ago, Pallab wrote an article about Twitter incorporating a list feature that enabled users to manage the information overload. Today, just as I logged into my Twitter account I found an alert waiting for me with a large reddish orange “New!” preceding it that managed to catch my attention more than the super large (and no-doubt super-chirpy) Twitter bird. I had Twitter Lists – “A great way to organize the people you follow and discover new and interesting accounts.” – in (Beta) of course.  So what is a Twitter List? And what differentiates it from the host of similar features touted by many Twitter clients such as DestroyTwitter’s Groups?

To better answer those questions, it would be easier to show the entire process of making a list and finding strengths (and flaws) of this new feature.

This picture shows my Twitter home screen as of now. There is of course the large alert, and along with that, my following/followers row has an addition called “listed”. This counts the number of lists you are a part of. Below the search bar is the Lists explanation and a link to create a new list.

Clicking that brings up an overlay dialog box that asks you two things: the name of the list and its visibility. The name of the list is becomes the page name (i.e. twitter.com/username/listname) and a private list can only be accessed by you, while a public list can be accessed by anyone. Pretty straightforward.

The list gets created and the only occupant of the list is a search bar urging you to find people to add to that list or you can add them from your following page as well. I decided to go to my following page and add people.

Here I see an added button to the left of the settings called “Manage lists in which <username> appears”. Clicking on it brings up a checkbox. After clicking the checkbox I see a small “Your lists: URL” added to the bottom of the user.

You can also add a user who does not follow you (and you do not follow the user either). Just a click and you are done!

And finally, the list view. Here you have made a personal timeline of stuff you want to see grouped under one view.

For all I know, the private list is indistinguishable from DestroyTwitter’s Groups feature. Thus, for me, this was nothing new. I guess the catch lies in the public lists which allow people with similar interests to follow, say, amateur astronomers and their like (the Twitter Team List is an excellent example).

P.S. Don’t forget to follow all the Techie Buzz authors at the Techie Buzz Twitter list.