This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
June 18, 2020
Twitter has taken a significant step in its efforts to combat misinformation and abuse on its platform by introducing a new feature: voice tweets. The feature, which allows users to record audio messages up to 140 seconds, is currently available to a limited group of iOS users and will be rolled out to all iOS users in the coming weeks.
The introduction of voice tweets comes after the launch of Clubhouse, a buzzy, invite-only app that encourages users to spontaneously drop into voice chat rooms. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for new forms of abuse, including verbal harassment and the spread of hateful content via audio that could be harder to detect than text.
When asked how the company would handle any abuse of the feature, a Twitter spokesperson said that it is working to incorporate additional monitoring systems ahead of rolling voice tweets out more broadly. The spokesperson also stated that the company would review any reported voice tweets in line with its rules and take action.
Twitter has also stated that users will not be able to use audio to reply to tweets. Creating a voice tweet is similar to regular tweeting, but users tap a new icon with wavelengths on it to record. Voice tweets are limited to chunks of 140 seconds, but users can keep recording and it will automatically create a thread.
Some users have pointed out that the feature is inaccessible to people with hearing issues, and Twitter has made no mention of adding a transcription option. Twitter hopes that voice tweets will add a 'more human touch' to the platform, and noted that sometimes 280 characters are not enough to convey a message.
'There's a lot that can be left unsaid or uninterpreted using text, so we hope voice Tweeting will create a more human experience for listeners and storytellers alike,' Twitter wrote in a blog post.
Twitter (@Twitter) tweeted, 'You can Tweet a Tweet. But now you can Tweet your voice! Rolling out today on iOS, you can now record and Tweet with audio.'
