On September 10, 2021, Twitter announced some exciting new features aimed at encouraging users to create smaller communities and engage in targeted communication. In addition to thematic groups, Twitter wants to offer users more privacy and the ability to create alternative accounts for easier communication with others.
One of the key updates is the launch of a live test for a new feature called Communities. This feature will allow all users to tweet within thematic groups only. Not all conversations on Twitter are meant for everyone, so now, for example, every dog lover can join the #DogTwitter community and share their passion for furry friends with like-minded users. Twitter hopes that this new feature will lead to more targeted interactions and more relevant conversations among its users.
To join a community, users must be invited by a moderator. There can be multiple moderators in one community, and they can add an unlimited number of members. In the future, Twitter also plans to allow anyone to automatically join any community. After writing a tweet, each member can choose whether to publish the post publicly for all their followers or only within the chosen community. Only members of the same community can participate in the conversations. The goal is to create a space where people with similar interests can share and engage with each other.
It’s important to note that communication within Communities is not private. All posts created within these groups will be publicly available for reading and sharing. This new feature can be likened to public groups on Facebook or subreddits on Reddit. Twitter is following the trend of other social platforms by moving from a „space for everyone and everything“ to creating specialized groups for more specific and in-depth conversations.
Another change in Twitter’s approach to its audience is the introduction of new options for choosing the audience for tweets, such as sharing only with close friends, and facets that allow users to create multiple alternative accounts under one profile. This trend reflects the shift towards more private and often closed group interactions on social media platforms.
By introducing these new features, Twitter could create a more vibrant space for diverse discussions. In addition to building communities, these updates will also enable more precise targeting for advertisements, ultimately increasing the platform’s revenue. As Twitter strives to keep up with the times, having more tools for further innovations will surely be beneficial.
Overall, these updates show Twitter’s commitment to evolving and providing users with more ways to connect and engage on the platform. The shift towards smaller communities and targeted communication reflects the changing landscape of social media and the increasing demand for more personalized interactions. Twitter’s move towards creating a more diverse and engaging space for discussions is a step in the right direction for the platform’s growth and user engagement.