Four updates rolled out to Twitter this week, which include new ways to reply to tweets, new ways to compose tweets, and more.
Many of these features are in the testing phase, though if they prove successful they will likely be rolled out more widely.
New features include:
- Tweet feedback videos
- New composer bar
- Topics bar
- An easier way to share your Twitter communities with others
Here’s more about each of these features.
1. Tweet feedback videos
Twitter is testing Twitter reaction videos on iOS.
Officially referred to as “Tweet Takes”, these reactions can be used as substitutes for quoting tweets.
The feature looks like it was directly inspired by TikTok video responses, which works in the exact same way.
Your Twitter reaction videos can now start on Twitter!
TEST ON iOS: When you tap the Retweet icon, choose ‘Quote Tweet with React’ to create and customize your own Tweet – take a video (or photo) with the embedded tweet. pic.twitter.com/1E30F8rKYh
– Twitter Support January 6, 2022
Tweet Takes is rolling out on iOS in a test that gives users the option to create a video or image when quoting a tweet.
Traditional quote tweets are still available as an option, too.
Sam Haveson, a member of the Twitter product team, shares an example of a Tweet Take in response to the Tweet Takes ad.
We want to give you more creative ways to join the conversation and express yourself on Twitter. Starting today, we’re running a test on iOS that gives you the option to quote a tweet with a video (or photo) using your Tweet Take.
This is my opinion https://t.co/RLolp062GA pic.twitter.com/21qlYk2hh5
– Sam Haveson (@samhaves) January 6, 2022
If you are part of the test group, you will see the “Quote tweet with reaction” option after clicking on the retweet icon.
Twitter isn’t the first or the only social media platform to transcribe TikTok video responses.
Last month, Instagram started allowing users to respond to comments on posts through Reels (which is a TikTok clone of itself).
Time will tell if this feature catches on, or if it goes the way of Twitter’s short-lived fleets.
2. The new Tweeter bar
Twitter is rolling out another test on iOS that makes it easy to tweet by giving you easy access online with a new author bar.
The new Tweet Composer bar appears directly above the bottom navigation menu and replaces the large blue plus sign previously used for composing Tweets.
We’re making it easy to start a tweet with a new author bar at the top of the bottom navigation menu. Test now with some of you on iOS. pic.twitter.com/jXb260Gm08
– Twitter Support January 6, 2022
Twitter user researcher Cody Elam He says this is being tested based on feedback the company has heard from users:
Through our research, many people tell us that it’s “hard to tweet.” “One of the problems we hear is that the mechanics of Twitter make it hard to get started as a new user.”
Elam goes on to say that when new users sign up, it’s not immediately clear how to start tweeting.
The blue button isn’t familiar to everyone, so Twitter is testing something as universally recognized as a text box.
If the new author’s ticker gets more people tweeting, this change is likely to be spread more widely.
3. Threads tagging bar
As Matt Navarra discovered, Twitter is working on the topic tag bar on iOS.
Presumably, this will allow people to jump straight to the topics that interest them the most.
Twitter is working on the topic tags bar on iOS
free @employee pic.twitter.com/QzE2wV6YFP
– Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) January 4, 2022
4. Share communities with followers
Twitter is introducing a way to share communities with followers on iOS in an effort to get more people to join them.
Go to the Community page in the Twitter app and tap Share. From there you can share it with a wider audience or invite people directly.
We’ve now made it easier to share a community on iOS!
So share it with your followers, likers, and anyone you think would like it pic.twitter.com/17BYtvlJDl
HiCommunities January 6, 2022
Featured image: Screenshot from twitter.com/TwitterSupport, January 2022.
