As Twitter Inc. is preparing for some changes under its new ownership, the company announced today that it’s now testing a feature that will allow people to send private tweets to up to 150 people.

The feature, called Twitter Circle, will give users an option to reduce the stress of communication on a mass scale. Right now, it’s still in the development stage, with the company saying that only select users from around the globe will have the option for a while. They will see a “Choose Audience” menu when they use the platform, and then they can select the friends they want to see the tweet.

This is not the same as Communities, which is dedicated to certain topics, nor is it the same as having a protected account, which is a setting that only allows someone’s followers to see the content you’ve posted. Twitter Circle can be used for any tweet, and it won’t have to be dealt with in the settings menu. Also, the people selected for the Circle don’t even have to be a follower of the user.

“Although people won’t see a list of Circle members when someone likes or replies to a Twitter Circle Tweet you share, members see your interaction, unless your account is protected,” the company explained. “If someone in your Twitter Circle keeps a protected account, only their followers who are also in your Twitter Circle will see their interaction.”

Twitter also said that when someone replies to a tweet in the Twitter Circle, that reply won’t come with a retweet button. The company warned that this won’t make it impossible for folks to take a screenshot or download the content, so it’s not as if there is total privacy within the group. And once you’re in, you’re in, meaning you can’t remove yourself from the Circle, but you can mute the conversation.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the same rules apply to the Circle as elsewhere. Since Elon Musk’s proposed acquisition of the platform, there has been a lot of talk about how the outspoken free-speech advocate might let things run wild. But in this case, Twitter pointed out, if people use hate speech or transgresses in other ways within the Circle, they can still be warned or receive a ban.

Photo: Twitter