Introduced in November 2020, Twitter added a function called Fleets in which you could tweet something out and have it automatically deleted after 24 hours. Social media users at the time quickly pointed out how it is functionally the same system used by Snapchat, and how all social media apps seem to blatantly copy each other. The consensus on Fleets shortly after it came out was mixed, with some liking the idea because they refused to move to other social media apps, and some hating it because of how obvious of a copy it was.

Add fleets
People say its dumb
People slowly start to like it
Get rid of it. pic.twitter.com/uyfHPpc069

— GoodRPGname (@GoodRPGname) August 3, 2021

Y’all fleets was janky anyways

— KB (@kikiinotkim) August 3, 2021

Twitter: We’ve removed Fleets

Literally everyone: pic.twitter.com/YiI4CIm5wk

— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) August 3, 2021

For many, Fleets disappearing meant nothing, as they didn't like or use the functionality anyway. For other Twitter users who did use or enjoy the function, having it be taken away left themselves, and the Twitter app, feeling empty. Many Twitter users mentioned that the content they used to post on fleets is not stuff they would post on their Twitter timelines, such as TikToks and other cringe things

Me scrolling through Twitter after the Fleets vanished pic.twitter.com/5Zf2XDpAH9

— FRANK (@callmeh_bf_no2) August 3, 2021

idk how to function without clicking on my mutuals’ fleets every time i get bored i feel like someone’s removed one of my limbs

— honey ❁ (@ryucovery) August 3, 2021

pressing on ppls pfp and not getting the option to view their fleets>>>>>>>>>>>>

— 19 (@backshotbullyfr) August 3, 2021

Twitter top bar without fleets 😭 #fleets pic.twitter.com/obpaIpiV8F

— Misal Orakzai (@MisalOrakzai) August 3, 2021

As a last hoorah for the system, and as a callback to what it was apparently used for before being removed, there seemed to be a large number of people hornyposting the day before its removal on August 3rd. When others learned that a lot of OnlyFans style content was being shared on Fleets, there was a mix of confusion and sorrow for missing out on what the function could truly have been used for.

since fleets are gone y’all gotta see my annoying tiktoks all the time. pic.twitter.com/m5sLBsNCfb

— SHAOLIN G (@BASEMENTGHOST) August 3, 2021

Fleets gone, everybody clothes back on… Back to regular twitter i guess! pic.twitter.com/NZMYxOPhNR

— Top 0.1 % Onlyfans $69 special (@Esquire_832) August 3, 2021

YALL WERE POSTING WHAT ON FLEETS?? AND I MISSED IT?? pic.twitter.com/fLDwNuLGhw

— sarah lugor! (@sarahlugor) August 3, 2021