Tweet
Twitter has been testing and rolling out features to its users at a rapid pace as of late, similar to WhatsApp.
But its main focus, away from a new verification system and monetization features, has been Spaces, its take on live chat rooms held within the app or on the web.
It’s Twitter’s ongoing mission to test new features while still keeping to what the social platform has been about for so long – hosting discussions.
However, while the aim of the feature, and its constant improvements, has been admirable, I wonder if it can hold the momentum for the next 12 months.
[ul]
[li]Twitter has written off Fleets after just eight months[/li][li]What is the best iPhone for you in 2021?[/li][li]Paid Spaces is now in testing at Twitter[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=1]Giving users space[/HEADING]
For almost 30 years, users on the internet have talked in groups across a variety of places – from chatrooms to forums, to messaging apps like MSN Messenger. Podcasts have also got in on the act, with hosting platforms and shows streaming their live recordings having IIRC chat rooms attached, so the hosts can answer questions toward the end of the episode.
This is where Twitter Spaces comes in, creating discussions where hosts and moderators can allow listeners to be part of the conversation as well – like a live radio show with a phone-in.
Spaces is a replacement for Fleets (a service that let you share content for 24 hours, similar to Instagram Stories), and sits above your Twitter feed so you can listen in to a discussion right away. The recent updates also enable users to be moderators, with the ability to remove participants, manage requests and even have Spaces to host ten speakers now.
making it easier to manage your Space…introducing co-hosting!- hosts have two co-host invites they can send- the table just got bigger: 1 host, 2 co-hosts, and 10 speakers- co-hosts can help invite speakers, manage requests, remove participants, pin Tweets and more! https://twitter.com/TwitterSpaces/status/1423333566675628039/photo/1August 5, 2021
See more
[HEADING=1]A space with a catch[/HEADING]
While this feature has been going from strength to strength with constant improvements appearing every month since its debut earlier this year, there’s still a catch with Spaces.
It needs other basic features to shine, such as the ability to publish a Space to a podcasting platform, and compatibility with other devices such as tablets and consoles.
Streaming services like Twitch and YouTube have enabled PlayStation and Xbox consoles to host gaming sessions for many years now. Spaces can also shine here by opening up possibilities for reviews and preview impressions on Spaces as users play a game. Halo Infinite could be a big opportunity for this.
Twitter has its own moment here to really make Spaces the centre of discussion. While Fleets never caught on, Spaces can become its own way of forming opinions and giving the spotlight to other groups that would previously not have the opportunity to in certain topics.
Listeners can become speakers, and in turn be inspired to host their own Spaces each week about other topics that they’re passionate about as well.
This alone gives Twitter a big opportunity for itself, and could even make the platform fun to use for many users once again.
Continue reading…
But its main focus, away from a new verification system and monetization features, has been Spaces, its take on live chat rooms held within the app or on the web.
It’s Twitter’s ongoing mission to test new features while still keeping to what the social platform has been about for so long – hosting discussions.
However, while the aim of the feature, and its constant improvements, has been admirable, I wonder if it can hold the momentum for the next 12 months.
[ul]
[li]Twitter has written off Fleets after just eight months[/li][li]What is the best iPhone for you in 2021?[/li][li]Paid Spaces is now in testing at Twitter[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=1]Giving users space[/HEADING]
For almost 30 years, users on the internet have talked in groups across a variety of places – from chatrooms to forums, to messaging apps like MSN Messenger. Podcasts have also got in on the act, with hosting platforms and shows streaming their live recordings having IIRC chat rooms attached, so the hosts can answer questions toward the end of the episode.
This is where Twitter Spaces comes in, creating discussions where hosts and moderators can allow listeners to be part of the conversation as well – like a live radio show with a phone-in.
Spaces is a replacement for Fleets (a service that let you share content for 24 hours, similar to Instagram Stories), and sits above your Twitter feed so you can listen in to a discussion right away. The recent updates also enable users to be moderators, with the ability to remove participants, manage requests and even have Spaces to host ten speakers now.
making it easier to manage your Space…introducing co-hosting!- hosts have two co-host invites they can send- the table just got bigger: 1 host, 2 co-hosts, and 10 speakers- co-hosts can help invite speakers, manage requests, remove participants, pin Tweets and more! https://twitter.com/TwitterSpaces/status/1423333566675628039/photo/1August 5, 2021
See more
[HEADING=1]A space with a catch[/HEADING]
While this feature has been going from strength to strength with constant improvements appearing every month since its debut earlier this year, there’s still a catch with Spaces.
It needs other basic features to shine, such as the ability to publish a Space to a podcasting platform, and compatibility with other devices such as tablets and consoles.
Streaming services like Twitch and YouTube have enabled PlayStation and Xbox consoles to host gaming sessions for many years now. Spaces can also shine here by opening up possibilities for reviews and preview impressions on Spaces as users play a game. Halo Infinite could be a big opportunity for this.
Twitter has its own moment here to really make Spaces the centre of discussion. While Fleets never caught on, Spaces can become its own way of forming opinions and giving the spotlight to other groups that would previously not have the opportunity to in certain topics.
Listeners can become speakers, and in turn be inspired to host their own Spaces each week about other topics that they’re passionate about as well.
This alone gives Twitter a big opportunity for itself, and could even make the platform fun to use for many users once again.
Continue reading…