Why is the journalistic standard to embed tweets (xeets?) instead of using screenshots?

An embedded tweet can be deleted, and depends on X supporting the functionality. If editing is ever introduced on the platform, it would permanently break all past articles that don’t have an independent record of the tweet (such as a full quote in the article or a screenshot). X can potentially (and maybe does) embed tracking features.

It seems like there are a lot of good reasons not to use embedded tweets, but almost every news source does it this way. Is there a good reason why?

  • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
    47·
    11 months ago

    As far as I remember it’s part of Xitters Terms and Conditions that if you want to show a tweet you need to embed it, otherwise you’re stealing it.

    And for Xitter it’s great, they still can change or delete it, they run javascript on the news page to get all your information, etc.

      • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
        24·
        11 months ago

        They don’t care about you but yes they would probably go after a newspaper and sue them for copyright infringement.

        • SteveEnglish
          101·
          11 months ago

          That suit would be practically impossible, as it’s clearly Fair Use.

          • centof@lemm.eeEnglish
            72·
            11 months ago

            Fair use is a defense you have to make in court. And court is expensive.

          • CluckN@lemmy.world
            1·
            11 months ago

            I hate Twitter but I despise articles that just post 3 tweets and provides a barebones AI recap of the conversation.

      • Tvkan@feddit.de
        8·
        11 months ago

        If you’re a large online news outlet doing this repeatedly: Probably sue you.