Stung by Bias Charges, Twitter Will Stop Suggestions

A little bird named Biz Stone tells reporters that Twitter’s much-maligned “suggested users” list is getting kicked out of the nest. The feature, which encourages new users to follow a handful of celebrities, has been mired in controversy over the selection process. Republicans, for example, have claimed it favors Democrats in California’s upcoming gubernatorial race.

At present, suggestions are drawn from a list of about 500 users, chosen by Twitter management based on their fame and how often they update. “That list will be going away,” Stone promised. “In its stead will be something that is more programmatically chosen, something that actually delivers more relevant suggestions.” Stone hinted that the suggestions could be tailored to users’ interests, though he didn’t elaborate. (More Twitter stories.)