4 new Twitter updates including video responses and more

Four updates were rolled out to Twitter this week, which include new ways to react to tweets, new ways to compose tweets, and more.

Many of these features are in the testing phase, but if they prove to be effective, they will likely be rolled out more widely.

New features include:

• Tweet reaction videos
• A new composers bar
• A topic tag bar
• An easier way to share Twitter communities with others

Here’s more information on each of these features.

1. Tweet reaction videos

Twitter is testing videos of reacting to tweets on iOS.

Officially called “Tweet Takes”, these reactions can be used as an alternative to quotes from tweets.

The functionality seems directly inspired by TikTok’s video responses, which work in the exact same way.

Twitter reaction videos can now begin on Twitter!

IOS Test: When you tap the Retweet icon, choose “Quote a Tweet with Reaction” to create and customize your own Tweet Take –– a reaction video (or photo) with the built-in Tweet. pic.twitter.com/1E30F8rKYh

– Twitter support (@TwitterSupport) January 6, 2022

Tweet Takes rolls out to iOS in a test that gives users the option to create a video or photo when citing a tweet.

Traditional quote tweets are also optional.

Twitter product team member Sam Haveson shares an example of Tweet Take in response to Tweet Takes’ announcement.

We want to provide you with more creative ways to join the conversation and express yourself on Twitter. Starting today, we’re rolling out a test on iOS that gives you the option to quote Tweet along with a reaction video (or photo) with your own Tweet Take.

Here is my opinion👇🏻📸 https://t.co/RLolp062GA pic.twitter.com/21qlYk2hh5

– Sam Haveson (@samhaves) January 6, 2022

If you are in the test group, you will see the option “Tweet quote with reaction” after you tap the Retweet icon.

Twitter isn’t the first or only social media platform to copy TikTok’s video responses.

Last month, Instagram began allowing users to respond to comments on posts through Reels (which is a TikTok clone in itself).

Time will tell if this feature spreads, or if it is in the direction of Twitter’s short-lived fleets.

2. New tweet composition bar

Twitter is running another test on iOS that makes tweeting easier by giving you easy online access with a new compose bar.

The new tweet compose bar appears directly above the bottom navigation menu and replaces the big blue button with the plus sign that was previously used for composing tweets.

We’re making it easier to start a Tweet with a new compose bar above the bottom navigation menu. Now let’s test with some of you on iOS. pic.twitter.com/jXb260Gm08

– Twitter support (@TwitterSupport) January 6, 2022

Twitter User Finder Cody elam says this is tested based on the feedback the company has received from users:

“From our research, a lot of people tell us ‘it’s hard to tweet.’ One of the issues we hear is that the Tweeting mechanisms make it difficult to start as a new user.

Elam goes on to say that when new users sign up, it’s not immediately obvious how to start tweeting.

The blue button isn’t familiar to everyone, so Twitter is experimenting with something more universally recognized like a text box.

If the new composition bar draws more people to Twitter, this change will likely be rolled out more widely.

3. Topic tag bar

As spotted by Matt Navarra, Twitter is working on a topic tag bar on iOS.

Presumably, this will allow people to jump straight to the topics that interest them most.

Twitter is working on a topic tag bar on iOS

h / t @chloekorzh pic.twitter.com/QzE2wV6YFP

– Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) January 4, 2022

4. Share communities with subscribers

Twitter is introducing a way to share communities with followers on iOS with the goal of getting more people to join them.

Go to the community page in the Twitter app and tap on sharing. From there, you can share it with a larger audience or directly invite people.

we have now made it easy to share a community on iOS!

so share them with your subscribers, mutuals, anyone you think would like it pic.twitter.com/17BYtvlJDl

– Twitter communities (@HiCommunities) January 6, 2022

Featured image: screenshot from twitter.com/TwitterSupport, January 2022.