Like most other social media platforms, Twitter has continually re-invented itself, adding new features in an attempt to stay relevant in the ever-changing social media universe. 2021, in particular, has seen the popular micro-blogging site attempt to launch several new innovations, including two that will fundamentally change the way users interact on the platform: Twitter Spaces and Twitter Blue.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Twitter Spaces
Officially launched in May 2021, Twitter Spaces is the app’s answer to the growing popularity of Clubhouse. According to Twitter, the purpose of Spaces is to “encourage and unlock real, open conversations […] with the authenticity and nuance, depth and power only the human voice can bring.”
Essentially, Spaces allows users creative new ways to stay engaged with followers by hosting or participating in live audio chats, usually centered around a specific topic. Maybe the latest episode of your favorite show just dropped and you want to discuss theories and reactions with other viewers in real-time — Twitter Spaces is the place to do it! You could also leverage Spaces to host a Q&A session with followers, lead a discussion on a trending topic within your industry, or even just allow like-minded accounts to interact with one another.
As the host of your own Space, Twitter gives you the power to control the conversation with options for choosing who is allowed to speak within a Space. Although Spaces are public and therefore accessible by anyone on Twitter, when hosting a Space you can choose to mute individual or all other accounts listening to the Space, and easily restrict or block users who are creating a negative experience.
Twitter Spaces is still in its infancy, as only accounts with 600 followers or more are currently allowed to host their own Space and the platform has already listed a number of improvements to the feature that will be coming in the future — including ticketed Spaces, improved accessibility, and more. However, savvy social media marketers will realize the great potential Spaces offers for connecting with followers of your brand in new ways … the possibilities are endless!
Twitter Blue
After months of rumors and speculation, Twitter officially announced the launch of Twitter Blue, its subscription-based service, in June 2021. While the test run of Twitter Blue is only available to users in Australia and Canada, the service allows users of the platform to pay a nominal fee (approximately $4 per month) to access a wealth of new features, including:
- Bookmark Folders, which helps you sort and organize the tweets you’ve saved and favorited;
- an “Undo Tweet” button, which gives you up to 30 seconds after posting a tweet to easily revise and correct any mistakes;
- a “Reader Mode,” which turns long threads of multiple tweets into a single, seamless reading experience;
- additional perks, including customizable app icons, dedicated customer support, and more.
It’s important to note that Twitter Blue is designed with “power users” of the platform in mind, and that the regular version of Twitter will remain free for all users. Many of the perks included as part of the services are features that are frequently requested by users, making it appealing for members of the Twitterati who spend a lot of their time on the platform each day; however, it may not be worth the investment for more casual users.
Like Spaces, Twitter has stated that these features are just the beginning of Twitter Blue, as they are actively listening to feedback from current users and plan on including additional perks in the future.
Ultimately, time will tell how useful both of these new innovations are for social media marketers, but at the very least they help to keep Twitter competitive in the increasingly crowded social media universe. Have you experimented with either of these new features? Let us know by tweeting us @ScooterMedia!
Trying to find more Twitter tips? Read about “4 Ways Brands Can Use Twitter in 2021 and Beyond,” then brush up on “The ABCs of Successful Social Media Campaigns.”
