Types of Tweets and Where They Appear

This article outlines where specific types of Tweets (messages) will appear on our site and in your or others' profiles. One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, "Where does my reply to someone's Tweet show up? I don't see it on their Twitter profile page." Hopefully this table gives a better outline of where messages go when you click the "Tweet" button.

Normal Tweets:

• Definition: Any message with fewer than 140 characters posted to Twitter. Also called a "Tweet." (Example above.)
• Where it appears for the sender: On the sender's Profile page.
• Where it appears for the recipient: In the home timeline view of anyone who is following the sender.
• Places it will never appear: In anyone else's Profile page, unless they retweeted the message.

@Mentions:

• Definition: A Tweet containing another user's Twitter username, preceded by the "@" symbol, like this: Hello @NeonGolden! What's up? (Example above.)
• Where it appears for the sender: On the sender's Profile page of public Tweets.
• Where it appears for the recipient: In the recipient's @Mentions tab, which is accessible only by them. Additionally, mentions will appear in the recipient's home timeline view (not Profile) if they are following the sender. Also note: anyone on all of Twitter who is following the sender and the recipient of a reply or mention will see the Tweet in their home view.
• Places it will never appear: On anyone's Profile page, unless they wrote the message.

@Replies:

• Definition: A Tweet that begins with another user's username and is in reply to one of their Tweets, like this: @NeonGolden I can't believe you thought that movie was cheesy--I loved it. (Example above.)
• Where it appears for the sender: On the sender's profile page.
• Where it appears for the recipient: In the recipient's @Mentions tab. Like mentions, replies will also appear in the recipient's home timeline view if they are following the sender. Anyone following the sender and the recipient of a reply or mention will see it in their home view.
• Places it will never appear: On anyone's Profile page, unless they wrote the message.

Messages (formerly "Direct Messages"):

• Definition: A private message sent directly to someone who follows you.
• Where it appears for the sender: In the sender's "Sent" folder. Will disappear if recipient deletes it.
• Where it appears for the recipient: In the recipient's private "Direct Messages" folder. Will disappear if sender deletes it.
• Places it will never appear: In any public timeline or public search.

Other Things You Might Want to Know:

What about Retweets (RTs)? Many users are often confused about where their retweets (and their tweets that have been retweeted by others) will show up on Twitter. Click here to read our article all about retweets and where you'll find them on your homepage, your profile, and on Twitter.
Why don't @replies sent from private profiles show up anywhere? Replies (@replies) are Tweets that automatically go on the public timeline. By protecting your account (making it private), you're telling us that you don't want anyone to see your updates unless you approve them, so your messages won't be public. So, if your account is private and you send a reply or mention, only those you've approved to view your Tweets will ever be able to see it. If you want to send messages such as mentions or @replies to people who are not following you, un-protect your account and make your information public.
Where do people's @replies appear for other users? If you're not the sender or recipient of an @reply, will you ever see the message on Twitter? The answer is YES! Users will see @replies in their home timeline if they are following both the sender and recipient of the update. Otherwise, they won't see the reply unless the visit the sender's profile page.