This archive report was first published on 9 May 2021.
On May 9, 2021, Twitter introduced a new feature called 'tip jar' that enables users to send money to others on the social network.
The feature, which is currently available to a select group of users, including creators, journalists, experts, and non-profits, aims to support the voices that make up the conversation on Twitter.
However, the feature has also been criticized for exposing personal information such as email addresses, as users who receive tips can see the sender's email address, even if no money is sent.
Twitter product lead Kayvon Beykpour acknowledged the issue and thanked security expert Rachel Tobac for pointing it out, but stated that Twitter cannot control how PayPal handles the information.
PayPal explained that the issue arose because the Twitter tip jar was using its 'goods and services' payment option, which shares details for shipping goods, and suggested that users can toggle to the 'friends and family' option during payment to avoid the issue.
The tip jar feature also supports Bandcamp and Patreon, widely used by musicians and independent digital creators, respectively.
Twitter's senior product manager Esther Crawford wrote in a blog post announcing the feature, 'We see you – sharing your PayPal link after your Tweet goes viral, adding your $Cashtag to your profile so people can support your work, dropping your Venmo handle on your birthday or if you just need some extra help.'
However, the feature has also raised concerns about the way it will be used, particularly among journalists who are often banned from accepting gifts.
