This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
June 22, 2020, marked a significant milestone for Twitter as the social media platform introduced a new feature that lets iOS users record and share audio snippets up to 140 seconds.
According to Twitter, the new feature is available only for iOS and for a limited group of people. The company aims to add a more human touch to the way users interact on the platform, allowing them to convey their thoughts and emotions more effectively.
When composing a tweet, users will see a new waveform icon beside the camera icon. Tapping on it will enable them to record their own audio message, which can be up to 140 seconds long. This is a significant departure from the traditional 280-character limit, providing users with more space to express themselves.
Twitter's Maya Patterson and Rémy Bourgoin explained the reasoning behind the new feature in a blog post, stating, 'Sometimes 280 characters aren’t enough and some conversational nuances are lost in translation. So starting today, we’re testing a new feature that will add a more human touch to the way we use Twitter — your very own voice.'
Users can record multiple voice tweets, with each one capturing up to 140 seconds of audio. Once the time limit is reached, a new voice tweet starts automatically to create a thread. This feature is designed to facilitate more in-depth conversations and provide users with a more engaging experience on the platform.