Twitter has always been on the forefront of social trends. Since launching more than 15-years ago, Twitter has never shied away from change or improvement, constantly adding useful features and add-ons. 2021 has been no different. This year alone, Twitter has made some massive changes and improvements, releasing over a dozen brand-new products and piloting many others. But it’s not just product releases that Twitter has been ramping up this year. The company has made a conscious effort to increase transparency with its users, (hundreds-of-millions of active users per month) and has taken a new approach to building and shipping product updates.
Over the last year, Twitter has been building products in public, getting its users’ feedback early on to ensure they get it right the first time around. In addition, Twitter has been massively focusing on diversity, within the company.
Below, we will highlight the products Twitter launched, developed, killed off, or is currently publicly testing in 2021.
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Twitter Spaces
Inarguably one of the hottest launches came in the form of the massively successful social audio feature, Twitter Spaces.
Spaces is a product Twitter began beta testing earlier this year. Twitter officially started testing Spaces on December 17, 2020, but began accepting requests to join their feedback group on December 20, 2020. They launched most of the platform with all you see now in 2021.
With live audio platforms growing massively in popularity, Twitter Spaces stuck out from the crowd by extending the first wave of invites to women, people of color and offering the platform to those with voices from under-marginalized communities.
By giving those without large followings or presence, Twitter allowed for people connect with like-minded individuals from all over the world no matter their backgrounds. From race, religion and geographical boundaries, Spaces narrows the divide of it’s users.
Since the public launch of Spaces in May of 2021, there have been many creators and brands using Spaces to bring audio conversations to their audiences such as fashion, skincare, shoes, mental health, science, bitcoin, and many other important topics.
Twitter announced it was “building in public” and has been very receptive to user feedback. The team has also been utilizing Spaces to hear from everyone about their Twitter experience by holding their own “spaces.”
A good example is Research Director Reggie Murphy. Murphy hosts a weekly space for Twitter Research called “Feedback Fridays.” Each Space has a different topic and allows the community to get involved.
The Spaces team also holds their own community gathering spaces with team members such as @Mr_DannySingh from Twitter Research, allowing questions and providing real-time updates for new features and progress on fixing bugs.
This hands on approach has allowed the team to experience what it’s “hosts” experience as they are using the very product they are asking for feedback about.
What users are saying:
“Twitter Spaces allows for full flexibility in whatever endeavor you seek…when you want to participate, for how long, on your terms”-Brian Hurst (@brianhurst01)
“Twitter Spaces provides even further value than the opportunity to connect and interface with the people and causes that would otherwise be almost impossible to reach. Now you have the ability to speak with those you follow and discuss the causes you care about.”-Stephanie McGann Jantzen (@stephjantzen)
“I’ve been on Twitter since March 2007. I thought I was connected to the world through Twitter but it wasn’t until Spaces that I truly became connected. These days the people I speak with, DM, and tweet are mostly people people I met through Twitter Spaces.”-Jennifer Navarette (@epodcaster)
“Twitter Spaces opened a whole new world for me. Through the people I met, I learned my value as a verified gaming writer and it’s given me an entire career path I may not have seen for myself otherwise. It changed my life in that I was not in the best place with my mental health and a year later I am happier than ever about the direction my life is going all thanks to those I met on my Spaces journey!”-Neera Burner (@mahat_mama)
Periscope – Gone But Not Forgotten
With Twitter Spaces being built on the former Periscope platform, many who had built communities and followings based on their live streams found themselves without the very place they had engaged for years, when Twitter announced the retirement of Periscope.
Many live streamers found other places for their live-streaming to land, however, most made a smooth transition to Twitter Spaces and started building content that was audio based.
While many were sad to see the platform go, others adjusted and benefited from pivoting in the ever-changing world of social media.
One such user described his experience…
“Periscope was a defining moment for me, it taught me a lot about building a community and prepared me for succeeding as a digital content creator. I will always be grateful for the experience.”-Issa Khari (@IssaKhari)
“I was a VIP Livestreamer and top UK broadcaster and featured globally countless of times. I was on Periscope from the launch of the app and when I heard that Twitter Spaces was built on top of Periscope. I felt somehow at home even though we were sad to see it close, as I spent almost 6 years there streaming every night. Spaces came at a time of covid and lockdown, when we all needed human connection the most. It gave me a chance to continue to keep in touch with my community and it gave a chance to people that weren’t comfortable in-front of the camera to speak via audio. It has been incredible this past year connecting with people from across the globe and developing meaningful friendships.”-Bobbi Bicker (@BobbiBicker)
Spaces Tab
As a part of the feedback received this year, the Spaces team implemented a tab solely for Twitter Spaces to help discovery and navigation for its users. The tab sits along the bottom, in the center, and displays spaces that are going on in real-time, who is hosting, and provides title cards for hosts to share their topics before someone enters.
Ticketed Spaces
On Aug 26, 2021, Ticketed Spaces were launched to an initial test group of participants that satisfied Twitter’s minimum requirements. An extension of Twitter Spaces, Ticketed Spaces allows Spaces hosts to sell tickets to their followers to attend an event.
PopWrapped Editor-in-Chief, Kimberly Kay Scott (@dearkimberlykay), who is also a Twitter Spaces Super Host, adds “Ticketed spaces could be a game changer for those who do not want to leave the platform for events they create. By allowing someone to purchase a ticket, people can give exclusive events to their followers directly from the platform people are already familiar with and trust.“
To qualify for Ticketed Spaces, hosts must be 18+, have 1000 Twitter followers, and have hosted three Spaces in the previous 30 days. For creators already using Ticketed Spaces, the minimum withdrawal amount is $50 for US creators. You must hit that threshold for each withdrawal.
Recorded Spaces
On Oct 28, 2021, Twitter announced that some hosts on iOS would be able to record their Spaces and share them with their audience. Recorded Spaces will remain up for 30 days or until the host removes the recording. Recorded Spaces are available for download during that 30 day window as well. Only speakers are shown during the playback of recorded spaces so hosts are able to curate their recorded experience.
Spark Program
Twitter launched many ways to help creators monetize this year. Even doing their version of a creators fund-type program called the Spark Program.
Via Twitter:
“The Twitter Spaces Spark Program is a three-month accelerator initiative that’s designed to discover and reward great Spaces on Twitter with financial, technical, and marketing support.”
Users applied for a three month program that allowed those accepted to earn $2500 per month, as well as ad credits and other benefits to create interesting content by form of Twitter Space conversations.
The first round saw one hundred and twenty creators on board.
Applications are now closed but Twitter has said they are re-opening early 2022.
“I’m honored to be part of the Twitter Spaces Spark Creator Program. It’s clear how much Twitter is both excited about, and supportive of, creators on this platform and no doubt 2022 will bring forth amazing content!” -Babbleonbrooke (@babbleonbrooke)
Updated Visual Identity
On January 29th, 2021, Twitter refreshed its visual identity across the web and mobile devices. Twitter decided to hire @AtelierIrradie in Paris vs. working with larger, more well-known companies. Atelier IRRADIÉ completely revamped all of Twitter’s visual identity, and we think they nailed it!
In addition to Twitter’s new visual identity comes with a brand new typeface, Chirp. To develop Chirp, Twitter worked with @grillitype in Switzerland. Chirp is also Twitter’s first proprietary typeface. Twitter says their new typeface is a “balance between messy and sharp to amplify the fun and irreverence of a Tweet, but can also carry the weight of seriousness when needed.“
The team
- Derrit DeRouen, Creative Director, Global Brand
- Hideki Nick Watanabe, Global Brand Director
- Meg Dudley, Lead Brand Strategist, Global Brand
- Devon Harris, Global Brand Manager
- Kyra Ivanoff, Lead Program Manager
- Maggie Kishibe, Sr. Research Manager, MI&A
+160 other awesome Tweeps
Twitter Blue
For the past few years, Twitter power users have always been saying that they want more and more; including an edit button! And on January 7th, 2021, Twitter gave it to them!
Twitter announced Twitter Blue, a new subscription service that allows you to customize your Twitter experience. Twitter Blue takes tweeting up a notch; giving you access to bookmark folders, undo tweet (not quite an edit button, but we’ll take it), reader mode, customizable app icons, custom theme color, and navigation bar.
Twitter Blue also comes with “Labs” which gives you access to features Twitter is currently testing before they are available to everyone; i.e. pinned conversations in direct messaging.
Twitter Blue is currently available for subscription in the US, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia on iOS, Android, and web.
$uper Follows
Source: Twitter
On September 1, 2021, Twitter released it’s Super Follows program.
Super Follows is a way for people to earn revenue on the platform by sharing subscriber-only content with their followers. Application based, Super Follows are currently available to those who are chosen through an application process, so don’t worry if you don’t see it on your page. People can now create other areas of conversation directly on Twitter (i.e Extra photos, tweets and video exclusive to their Super Followers).
Esther Crawford, Staff Product Manager created a full thread on the product.
Super Follower user, Mr. Humanity (@mrhumanitygives), hit over 800 Super Followers in December; making him one of the top users on the platform where he does giveaways and comedy as his main content. By combining Super Follows, Ticketed Spaces and the Tip Jar, this is a perfect example of cross-using the new tools this year.
Tip Jar
Twitter has been hard at work this year developing new monetization products to help their creators make money on Twitter. One of these new products is Tipping. Tipping allows creators to display a Tip Jar on their profile, giving their fans the ability to tip them directly.
You can enable tips on your profile and accept tips from the following services:
- Bandcamp
- Cash App
- Chipper
- Patreon
- Razorpay
- Wealthsimple Cash
- Venmo
- GoFundMe
- PicPay
Twitter also offers the ability to tip with Bitcoin over the Lightning Network.
Communities
On Sept 8th, 2021, Twitter announced Twitter Communities. Communities are places to meet and connect with people with similar interests surrounding specific topics.
Communities are currently in the pilot stages. For access to Twitter Communities (currently over one hundred created so far), you must fill out this interest form. However, anyone who is invited or joins a public community can participate in the platform.
Our executive staff complied several noteworthy communities to join:
- Entertainment News (Created by the PopWrapped team) – @PopWrappedTV
- AstroTwitter- @Shawtyastrology
- Mindfulness Twitter- @dearkimberlykay
- Marketing Twitter- @ThatChristinaG
- Artists on Twitter- @bobbibicker
- Holistic Nutrition & Dietetics- @DrSubhasree
- Barbz (Nicki Minaj Fandom)- @nliddle16
- Skincare Twitter- @labeautyologist
- SciArt Twitter- @flyingtrilobite
“I love the versatility and the special care the moderators are showing the audience/members.”-Kiki Xiraki-Tselios (@kyriakixt)
Shop Module
Twitter is testing a new product called Shop Module. The new Shop Module will allow businesses and creators to showcase their products directly on their profile. As far as who has access to this feature, Twitter says, “We’re starting small with a handful of brands in the United States. People in the U.S. who use Twitter in English on iOS devices will be able to see the Shop Module.”
The new Shop Module is in very early explorations and we are very excited about the potential of shopping on Twitter.
Newsletter on Profile
Earlier this year, Twitter acquired Revue, an award-winning newsletter platform. Since acquiring Revue, Twitter has enabled its users to add a subscribe button to their profiles, allowing their followers to subscribe directly to their Revue newsletter. This is huge for small businesses and creators, allowing them to build a highly-curated mailing list.
“The Revue Newsletter is an amazing feature of Twitter. We use Revue on a weekly basis to let our subscribers know about our upcoming Spaces, what is on this week’s Pawdcast, and we also highlight a scientist and explain what they do. Finally, we share our favourite tweets of the week which seamlessly integrate into Revue and share links to the merchandise of the week at our store.”–@bunsenbernerbmd
Safety Mode
On September 1st, 2021, Twitter announced a new feature they call Safety Mode. Twitter knows that feeling safe on Twitter will look different to each user. Twitter’s hope with Safety Modes is to reduce disruptive interactions. Safety Mode will automatically block accounts for seven days that use potentially harmful language such as insults or hateful remarks. This is an optional feature you can enable via settings.
Twitter says they’ll be “rolling out this safety feature to a small feedback group on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com, beginning with accounts that have English-language settings enabled.“
Birdwatch
On January 25th, 2021, Twitter announced its latest product, Birdwatch, a community-based approach to misinformation. Twitter says, “all data contributed to Birdwatch will be publicly available and downloadable in TSV files.”
Currently, Birdwatch is a pilot in the US. To learn more about Birdwatch, click here.
Twitter Verification
Twitter paused verification back in November 2017 to completely overhaul its application process, requirements, and eligible categories.
On May 20th, 2021, Twitter launched its new verification program, allowing users to request verification directly in the Twitter app/web.
Fleets
Unfortunately, not every product that makes the initial cut will eventually stay, and Fleets was one of those products that quickly saw its ending. Twitter completely removed fleets from its platform on August 3rd, 2021, leaving its users with mixed emotions.
Twitter ended their Fleets killing tweets with a “we’re sorry, or you’re welcome.” Users from all over the world loved this, so Twitter responded by sending them some custom merch. We were some of the people very sorry to see the feature go.
Jack Dorsey Leaves Twitter, But The Future Remains Bright
On November 29th, 2021, Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, announced that he was stepping down from his role, “I’ve decided to leave Twitter because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders,” Dorsey said in a statement. Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s chief technology officer, has since taken over the helm. Dorsey said in an email he published on Twitter that Agrawal has been his choice to lead the company “for some time given how deeply he understands the company and its needs.”
“Twitter is now executing against an ambitious multi-year plan to dramatically increase the company’s reach and value, and we look forward to the next chapter of Twitter’s story,” the company’s managing partner Jesse Cohn and senior portfolio manager Marc Steinberg said. “Having gotten to know both incoming Chairman Bret Taylor and incoming CEO Parag Agrawal, we are confident that they are the right leaders for Twitter at this pivotal moment for the company.”
Dorsey stressed that the decision to leave was his alone, and has said he wants to focus on cryptocurrency and philanthropy. Dorsey himself has criticized the obsession with founder-C.E.O.s. “I believe that’s severely limiting and a single point of failure,” he has been quoted as saying. “I believe it’s critical a company can stand on its own, free of its founder’s influence or direction.”
Twitter shares have jumped 85% since Dorsey took over as CEO on Oct 5. 2015, but as always, Twitter has highly lofty and ambitious goals. The company stated earlier this year it aims to have 315-million monetizable daily active users by the end of 2023 and to at least double its annual revenue in that year alone.
For us at PopWrapped, we are excited for the future of Twitter, and the future looks bright. Since its inception, Twitter has always been at the forefront of social media, and social experimentation, and 2022 looks to be no different.
