Online news and social networking service, Twitter, announced on Wednesday that it is changing up its service in favour of major events to make it easier for people to access the latest breaking news.
This shift in focus sets the service apart from other social media networks such as Facebook who have opted to focus less on live events and news and more on the personal lives and interests of its user base.
In terms of what they’re changing, the Twitter app will now feature a “happening now” module to highlight all kinds of breaking news, as well as “personalized news” based on your interests. Entering into one of the events will bring up a separate timeline dedicated to that particular event, with relevant tweets, photos, and videos highlighted. Twitter launched a similar feature called “Moments” in 2015, and the latest changes expand on that feature.
Twitter might also send push notifications that would direct you into the same kind of “happening now” experience but specifically catered towards your interests or what Twitter thinks you will be especially interested in. The service will also start notifying users in its app when an event is happening that might be of interest to them.
“We want Twitter to be the little bird on your shoulder that tells you what you need to know when you need to know it,” said Keith Coleman, Twitter vice-president of product in a briefing with reporters.
By Daniëlle Kruger
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